MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY GUIDE: ISSUE 27, NOVEMBER 2012 MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY GUIDE
THE HOLDING PATTERN Your Tunes The Holding Pattern CEO and Founder Nick Arnold
Allowing musicians to digitally sell their work while also collecting licensing revenue and, perhaps most importantly, retaining control over the destiny of their music, The Holding Pattern might just be the future of independent musicians. JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD gets the lowdown from CEO and founder Nick Arnold. Having waded through the uncertain waters of the music industry for the last 15 years, Nick Arnold knows a thing or two about the industry. “I’ve been a musician for the last 15 years and I’ve been signed to EMI publishing in LA also as a film composer for the last 10 years, so I’ve written music for a bunch of films and TV, and I found I had a lot of music left over – on the shelf so to speak – and wasn’t doing anything with it,” he explains. “I thought, if I was just one in a hundred thousand in this country or more, I would imagine that’s a lot of music people aren’t getting their hands on, aren’t discovering or aren’t getting exposed to.” After ruminating on this thought for several months, the proactive musician eventually came up with the idea for brand new Australianowned online market place for independent and emerging artists to promote, license and sell music. “It’s a brand new music platform that brings together independent artists, creatives and fans under the one umbrella,” Arnold explains. “What we’re trying to do is bring together, for the first time, the creatives and the production companies looking to source music from film, radio and public broadcast and also providing that community exposure for independent artists
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to raise their profile; and within that creating a really clean innovative music platform for people to find new music they would never have heard of before. I wanted to create this platform that would be easy to use, that musicians could choose at what price to sell their music – they earn 80 per cent of all their sales – and also that music fans get to discover this new music through a cool, innovative search engine.” Although the platform is currently exclusively digital, Arnold is keen to diversify and incorporate hard-copy publishing in future years. “We definitely want to go down the road of encapsulating all types of publishing. I’m a big vinyl fan myself, but right now we’re still a fledgling company so to speak, and want I want to do is to make sure that all music isn’t lost. If you are a hard copy fan and you still love looking through looking lyric sheets and smelling the paper and looking at the artwork, the beautiful romance that’s there when you listen to the music, that’s still going to be brought in, in coming months. The next part of what is going to happen is going to be incorporating that creative side and bringing the illustrators and artists to pitch their work to bands that might need artwork for an album, single or for merchandise. We’re trying to incorporate that all into the digital world we all live in now.”
While the functionality of The Holding Pattern has been drawing comparisons with iTunes and Spotify, Arnold is keen to point out The Holding Pattern is an entirely different beast, particularly when it comes to the service offered to musicians. “What we listen to through platforms or iTunes, that’s about five to 10 per cent of music that’s out there. I’m not trying to be anti-anyone it’s just that there’s simply more music out there. Also, more importantly, it’s for the artists to not get lost in large libraries of music like iTunes and Spotify and hoping to get found. Independent artists, what they need the most is obviously promotion and, without being too obvious, cash as well – but it’s through exposure that you get cash. As Arnold attests, The Holding Pattern also offers music lovers an alternative way to discover what might be their new favourite band through an easy-touse visual search engine. “It helps people walk through a 3D world of floating genres and helps you educate the user in terms of what else is out there – so if you like rock you might like indie rock, if you like indie rock you might like blues. It’s this visual kind of rabbit hole, never coming to an end,” he explains. “I’m just trying to offer a viable alternative for users to find and explore
new music. What I’m trying to do is create this independent community where you’ll find it’s truly independent and new and it’s probably something you haven’t heard before. Whether you like rock or you like jazz or you like hip hop, you’re going to find something in The Holding Pattern you love and that’s kind of exciting for a music lover as well as it is for an artist.” Having recently caught the eye of UK distributor Ditto Music and renowned music distributor MGM, it’s not hard to predict the buzz surrounding The Holding Pattern is only going to get bigger. “We’re so stoked to have MGM on board because not only are they really nice guys but because they’ve also been stalwarts of Australian independent music. It’s a really massive coup for us because MGM are the biggest independent Australian music distributor and for them to support us and endorse us is massive. I think can see that too and understand what we’re trying to do. Unfortunately the state of the music industry at the moment is such that a lot of platforms out there are just going to the top of the cake rather than getting to the nice juicy part of the cake.” _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
NEWS NEW MUSIC MINI SERIES
The New Music Network is calling for proposal for the 2013 New Music Mini Series. The Series comprises artists and ensembles of ‘the next generation’ within the contemporary art music practice. Genres considered for the Series include: electronic, improvisatorial or composed musics. Proposals will only be accepted for events held in Australia. The benefits of the project includes profile building, marketing and audience development support and from the critical context of presenting alongside more established member groups in an annual program. For full information and to lodge your proposal visit newmusicnetwork.com.au.
Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 Pro
FREE NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GUITAR RIG 5 PRO
Starting up a studio? Want quality sound for a crazy low price? Enjoy free stuff? The fine folks from the DJ Factory are here to satisfy. All you have to do is purchase Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 premium studio audio interface before Monday, December 31, and you can get yourself a copy of Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 Pro for free from the Native Instruments website upon registration. Easy. This offer is valid until Monday, December 31,or until stock runs out. Contact The DJ Factory friendly staff on (08) 9228 1911 for more details.
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ROCKSMITH ALT-ROCK DLC TOUR FUNDING Music video game Rocksmith has received new downloadable songs with the Alternative Rock DLC pack. The pack features 15 tracks from bands including 3 Doors Down, The Black Keys, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Rush and Vampire Weekend. Ubisoft also has a metal-themed DLC pack planned for December. For more information visit rocksmith.com.
MONSTER CLARITY HD
Monster Clarity H D ’s s t u n n i n g, high performance Model One speakers will soon be available in bronze and silver, accompanying the strik ing red and yellow already available. The Clarity HD Model One is the first of its kind to combine power ful audio performance with total user simplicity and all the connectivity features you could wish for. The Model One enhances Monster the quality of music playback, Clarity HD delivering audio performance that Silver many would not believe possible from such compact speakers. To top it off, the all-in-one system can fit neatly in a room of any size. The bronze and silver models will be available from Saturday, December 1, at Harvey Norman for $999. For further information on Monster’s Clarity HD range, more information can be found at ehifi.com.
Got some killer tunes you want to play in every nook and cranny of our fine country? Well funding packages are now open for the Contemporary Music Touring Program which supports national touring by musicians performing original contemporary music. It provides travel support of up to $15,000 for artists and their manager undertaking tours within Australia. Tours to remote and very remote destinations are a high priority and additional funding above the $15,000 funding cap can be sought. Applications close on Monday, December 3, with decisions advised in February 2013. Click over to australiacouncil.gov.au/grant for full details.
WAM MUSIC INDUSTRY SUNDOWNER
If you have an album, EP or single ready and are wondering how to service it to community radios across Australia, then you won’t want to miss the last WAM Music Industry Sundowner of the year. On Monday, November 26, at The Rosemount Hotel, an all star panel comprised of Adam Trainer (RTRFM), Chris Johnson (AMRAP) and Glenn Dyson (Prime Cuts Music) will spill the beans on this topic and much more. Entry is free for WAM members who register before 10am on Monday, November 26, or $5 for non-members or unregistered members on the door.
APRA PDAS
Applications for the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs) have opened, with over $240,000 to be allocated to eight winners from categories as diverse as country, jazz, popular contemporary, classical and more. The PDAs offer cash, travel, education and recognition to music writers in the early stages of their careers. Previous winners include the likes of local songstress Abbe May and international sensation Gotye. For further enquiries email pda@apra.com.au, call (02) 9935 7788, or click on over to apra-amcos.com.au.
LISTEN UP Making a short list of the best headphones is a difficult proposition. There are loads of options, and no matter how carefully you choose, someone is bound to come along and point out an obvious omission. Truthfully though, we’re glad there are so many great headphone options these days. In a well-saturated market, the consumer usually wins; but where do you start looking? JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD takes a look at four new performers on the market.
Abbe May
RTRFM’s Adam Trainer
MOTÖRHEADPHÖNES
For years the megastars of hip hop - Dr Dre, Ludacris, RZA and 50 Cent - have stuck their celebrity bling brands on various audio ear warmers, but now one of the biggest heavy rock bands has jumped on the bandwagon. That’s right, from ‘the Iron Fist Over-Ear loudest band in the world’ Motörheadphönes come the Motörheadphönes. Manufactured by Swedish audio brand Krusell there is a whole range of Motörheadphönes, including the padded over-ear Motörizer (promising “smooth warm bass, bombastic drums and clear mid-range plus distinct high end”); Iron Fist (“they pack the bass without losing the clear mid-range and distinct high frequencies”); and lighter-weight Bomber (“big guitars, fat drums and rumbling bass”) models. The in-ear series features the Overkill and Trigger models – each available in leather-jacket black, deaths-head silver, and guitar-plug brass colours. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a series of phone cases on offer. Check out the full Motörheadphönes range at motorheadphones.com. A selection of Motörheadphönes headphones are also stocked through Headphonic.
MONSTER DNA HEADPHONES
After their divorce from Beats Audio in early 2012, Monster has teamed up with Viacom to make and market their DNA headphones, a set of on-ear cans bathed in style and slightly better audio than its predecessors. Made from premium materials and available in two stylish colours - blue and teal - the Monster DNA looks are specifically designed to give a high quality finish. And with their pillow-soft, advanced Monster DNA noise isolating cushions Headphones in Blue and lightness for overall better ear comfort, DNA Headphones lock in sound so that you can listen for hours without distraction. The DNA headphones are available exclusively at Harvey Norman stores for $249. For full specs and details hit up monstercable.com/headphones. www.xpressmag.com.au
Audiofly AF45 headphones
AUDIOFLY HEADPHONES
In 2012 the new name for premium headphones is Audiofly. With four in-ear headphone products – the AF33, AF45, AF56 and AF78 – of varying specs and prices available for discriminating music lovers and musicians. With custom voiced drivers, Cordura fabric cables, hybrid speaker configurations, clearer microphone technology and classic designs, their range is unlike anything else on the market, so much so that they were named an International CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Awards nominee for their AF78s. This means they will be showcasing their products at the huge 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next January. If you want more information on getting back to experiencing the true sound of music, visit the company at audiofly.com, or by calling 1300 729 359 or drop them an email at info@audiofly.com. Audiofly headphones are also currently stocked through Elroy Clothing, Headphonic, Urban Records, 78 Records and more.
SOL REPUBLIC TRACK ULTRA V12 HEADPHONES
Designed to be the world’s first interchangeable and virtually indestructible headphones, SOL REPUBLIC has recently released their new range of Track Ultra V12 headphones. A stylish and premium product for music lovers who want to mix and match Sol their style, the Tracks Ultra V12 Republic Track headphones are constructed with Ultra V12 the virtually indestructible FlexTech Headphones Sound track interchangeable headbands, built to withstand heavy abuse. Other features include V12 Sound Engine speakers, engineered to deliver a high performance sound quality, comfortable ear cushions to isolate noise and a three-button remote with omni-directional cables, designed to be interchangeable with all Tracks headphones. Track Ultra V12 headphones are available at Harvey Norman and JB HiFi for $239. For full specs and details check out solrepublic.com. 45
PRODUCT REVIEWS ORANGE SIGNATURE #4 JIM ROOT TERROR HEAD & CABINET Jim Root, guitarist with bands Slipknot and Stone Sour, is one of many artists currently playing Orange amps both on stage and in the studio. The Signature #4 Jim Root Terror Head is modelled after the dirty channel on the amp that Jim Root regularly plays: the Orange Rockerverb 100. The Signature #4 Jim Root Terror Head amp is an all-valve amplifier with four stages of gain powered by two EL34 and four 12AX7 valves. In keeping with the company’s ‘less is more’ philosophy, the amp face keeps things pretty simple: volume, bass, middle, treble and gain controls provide all the variation players will need to pull a monstrous tone. The output can be switched from 7 to 15 watts. The 7 watt setting is great for rehearsal spaces and working on tones at home. Don’t be fooled by the ‘low’ wattage, this is one incredibly powerful amplifier. Everything a rock and metal player could ask for is right here: plenty of gain, plenty of power and effective eq controls. There’s an effects loop on the rear of the amp for players who like their effects post-gain, and either one 8-ohm or 2 16-ohm cabinets can be connected. Coupled with the matching signature 120-watt 2x12 speaker cabinet, this amp
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AQUA-PUSS MK II DELAY PEDAL Guitar effects seem to be always heading in two directions: into the future with effects that continue to test the technical boundaries of sonic possibility and into the past, longing for a time when everything was simpler and sounded ‘real’. While excellent effects can be found in either direction, the Jim Dunlop Way Huge series of effects pedals are definitely in the latter category. The Aqua-Puss MKII Analog Delay is proudly retro, from the design and colour right through to the simple controls and of course the sound. Three control knobs provide the tonal variety; Delay alters the effect from 20ms to 300ms, Feedback alters delay duration and intensity, and Blend sets a balance between the dry and effected signal. Orange Signature #4 Guitarists who are into more sophisticated Jim Root Terror Head & Cabinet delays will probably overlook this pedal, but is highly affordable, highly portable solution for hard players who are into vintage sounds that are easy rockers and metalheads looking to minimise space to manipulate will find a lot to like here. Dialling in a 60s-inspired freaky delay was easy and there and maximise tone. The Orange Signature #4 Jim Root Terror is plenty of scope for generating unique, strange Head and Signature #4 Jim Root PPC212 Cabinet retail sounds. Subtlety is certainly not the strong suit with as a package for $1999. Guitar World Cannington this effects pedal, but let’s face it, why should it be? currently has the package on sale for $1699. Sometimes more is more.
Jim Dunlop Way Huge Aqua-Puss MK II Delay Pedal The Dunlop Way Huge Aqua-Puss MKII Analog Delay retails for $299 and is currently available at Guitar World Cannington. _CHRIS GIBBS Many thanks to Guitar World Cannington for letting us review their products.
24 5/8 inch scale across 24 jumbo frets combined with the ebony fingerboard provide a neck that B.C. RICH JINXX PRO The feels genuinely easy to play and mould to while the neck-through construction allows effortless access X BICH GUITAR to the higher frets. The EMG 81 pickups provide an BC Rich are a guitar company that know how to make eye-catching guitars. Throughout the company’s history, there have even been a few models that have rivalled more standard guitar body shapes in terms of familiarity, most notably the Mockingbird and the Bich. In collaboration with Jinxx from Black Veil Brides, BC Rich have recently released the Jinxx Pro X Bich. Impressively – and at odds with the body shape – this is a really comfortable guitar to play. The issue of balance with oddly-shaped guitars can put some players off; this guitar sits perfectly against the player and invites immediate fretboard exploration.
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aggressive yet rounded growl, while the genuine Floyd Rose Original Series tremolo is well balanced and easy to manipulate without sacrificing intonation. Grover Super Rotomatic Tuners, a three-way toggle switch, individual volume controls and a master tone control round out the hardware on this sleek instrument. It’s a guitar that sounds as great as it looks, finished of with Black Veil Brides fret inlays and super-cool black and white stripes on the mahogany body. I didn’t want to put this one down! The B.C. Rich Jinxx Pro X Bich retails for $1499. Guitar World Cannington have this guitar on sale for $1349.
B.C. Rich Jinxx Pro X Bich Guitar
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ROCK SCHOLARS From The Garage To Greatness
Music, friendship, local spirit and young talent will be celebrated at The Bakery next month as Rock Scholars takes to the stage on Sunday, December 9, for their inaugural Festivus 2012. JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD learnt more about Perth’s leading contemporary music teaching and learning facility from founder and managing director Emily Urquhart.
Rock Scholars as a means of teaching young players more of the industry based skills to do with playing in a band. Unlike a conventional label, we provide education and training for bands as well as the regular services (management, bookings, publicity etc). It’s designed to bridge the gap between bands leaving school and entering the local music industry. The label’s run by a committee of Rock Scholars students and staff.
Why do you think it is important for young musicians to have an outlet to be creative? I think of creativity as a way of functioning rather than a skill. Creative people seem to have different ways of perceiving the world and reacting to it and they experience different patterns of feelings and energy. They have a compulsion to put ideas and material into the world but young people sometimes struggle to manage this. It takes time to learn how to manage your creativity. I think the best thing is to be able to Tell us a little bit about the Rock Scholars ethos? Well, our ethos is really centred on the idea connect with other creative people. It’s validating of authenticity – in the relationships we have with the and empowering. We provide a safe and nurturing students and they have with each other and also in environment where students can explore ideas the experiences we provide for them. We use music as and benefit from the knowledge and support of a vehicle for connecting people, building confidence, experienced mentors. It keeps them engaged, focused teaching skills and helping young people to discover and connected. themselves. We try and make the experience of playing in a band at Rock Scholars as real and useful and fun as What can people expect from the inaugural Rock Scholars Festivus? possible! Well, we’ve got 23 bands now and we just What have been some of the highlights of 2012 wanted to celebrate all the good that has been put into Rock Scholars over the past few years to get it to this so far? This year we’ve started our own record point. Also, we want to show Perth how good the next label, Extended Play Records, and our own small all generation of players is! They can expect a chilled out ages gig venue, The Garage. We’ve also constructed family style vibe, some amazing young bands (nine in a demo room and are preparing for the construction total) and lots of fun! If they don’t already play in bands, of a studio. Actually, one of the highlights of this year they can expect to want to do this by the end of the has been watching our staff members grow in their day! It’s inspiring stuff. confidence, commitment and enthusiasm. They have come together as a tightly knit team that really believes What has Rock Scholars got planned for 2013? We’ve always got things in the pipeline but in what we do. I’m so proud of them and the way they next year it’ll really be revolving around our studio mentor the bands. and more industry based events. We’re planning some ‘Meet The Band’ sessions with local bands, more all ages Tell us a little bit about Extended Play Records… Extended Play Records was started really gigs, recording and launches at The Garage and a Rock Scholars camp! 47
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Bellusira
BELLUSIRA Armed And Dangerous
Bellusira are heading West for the first time ever, for two shows at Beat Nightclub on Friday, November 23, and The Newport on Sunday, November 25. BOB GORDON reports. Passionate Melbourne rockers Bellusira have made quite a name for themselves on the East Coast in recent times – tearing up the live scene and sharing stages with the likes of The Misfits and Dead Letter Circus. Bellusira is a fusion of two Latin words, ‘beautiful’ and ‘anger’. It says a lot about the band itself. “The band reflects the name a lot,” says drummer, Jimmy Mileto. “Our music can be quite aggressive and intense derived from our own frustrations and anger towards the world at times, but Crystal’s sweet melodies and lyrics along with our dynamics and occasional sensitivity brings out that ‘beautiful’ dynamic.” Bellusira formed from the ashes of a previous band, Fallacy, which featured vocalist, Crystal Ignite, and bass player, Mark Dalbeth. It was simply time for another path.
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“Fallacy was more about healing for me,” says Ignite, “it helped me get through a really tough period of my life. After that band ended I guess I was ready to share a more positive vibe and connect to people in a more positive and uplifting way.” Along with guitarist, Vinny Mancuso [formerly of Melbourne underground outfit, Freestate] Bellusira have a full-length album on the way and a teaser single, Culprit, just released. 2013 is looking to be a big one for the band and Mileto says the sound of the forthcoming album reflects much of what they have been through thus far.
“Our music can be quite aggressive and intense, derived from our own frustrations and anger towards the world at times, but Crystal’s sweet melodies and lyrics along with our dynamics and occasional sensitivity brings out that ‘beautiful’ dynamic.” “We are all very excited about this,” he enthuses. “We have worked hard, taken risks, gone back and forth and are very happy with how the album is turning out so far. I guess it evokes hard work, inspiration and good vibes. “We plan to tour quite a lot next year around Australia for sure, but we are also looking at heading overseas. So fingers crossed we can get there sometime next year.”
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