THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Winner Spotlight- FOLK/SINGER-SONGWRITER SONG

VOTE NOW FOR WOLF IN THE FOLD IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song

BAND NAME: Wolf in the Fold

WEB SITE: myspace.com/wolfinthefold

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Self released!

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: The Fall

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: Brad Jones, Zack Faza, Maria Carter and Andy Faza.

WHERE WAS THIS SONG RECORDED? Crooked Tree Studios (very north of Tampa)

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Folk would be easiest but we all prefer ‘post-apocalyptic fatalist optimism.’

WHAT’S THIS SONG ABOUT? Death.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? We believed this track properly harnessed our intent during our last recording session. And we noticed that, generally, there is not enough post-apocalyptic fatalist optimism going around.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? www.last.fm/music/Wolf+In+The+Fold/Untitled+Album – all free downloads!

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? It was actually completely fan funded! We played the equivalent of a rent party in order to afford the recording process. This project would not exist otherwise.

WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? Calvin and Hobbes, the kids from the Peanuts comic strip, and Kermit the Frog, all dancing.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? Oftentimes we hang up our guns as far as attempting any type of commercial success is concerned, but our fans have consistently asked us to continue, or play another show, or record more music, etc, and these songs (or any of the shows we play lately, for that matter) are a direct result of their encouragement.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? We played on the curb beside a highway after one of our shows once and I think the curb was one of the most proper and enjoyable places we have ever played.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? Driving with the windows down, reading comics, dancing to Al Green… I’m getting excited just thinking about it!

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… similar to the chupacabra in that we’ve heard rumors it exists but we try not to think about it.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Success is living life so that if a time-machine existed you would not want to use it (except for adventures).

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? Have you heard the new Keane album?! It’s literally a masterpiece of ‘80s songwriting with compassionate undertones. Gah, I can’t stop listening to it. Otherwise, we mostly listen to Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans and Billie Holiday, etc, which I think would come as a surprise to our listeners!

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: Try Roman, Awake In Gear, Middle Rhythm Session, and Caleb K. & The Swamp Kittens.

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- FOLK/SINGER-SONGWRITER ALBUM

VOTE NOW FOR VIENNA TENG IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album

BAND NAME: Vienna Teng

WEB SITE: www.viennateng.com

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Signed

NAME OF LABEL: Rounder Records/Universal Classics & Jazz

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States: San Francisco, CA and New York, NY.

NOMINATED ALBUM: Inland Territory

ARTISTS ON THIS ALBUM: Vienna Teng & Alex Wong

WHERE WAS ALBUM RECORDED? Various studios in New York and Southern California, a church and an old house in San Francisco, and a basement in Indiana. Making the album was a year-long road trip!

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Singer-Songwriter, Chamber Folk.

WHAT/ IF ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? We used a lot of orchestral and “found” percussion sounds—artillery shells, giant chimes, marimba, sandpaper, pots and pans, the crackle of a record-player needle hitting vinyl. We also recorded a few songs live, all the musicians together, in the parlor of a Victorian house built in 1894.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Amazon, iTunes, Borders, Barnes & Noble… And at shows of course!

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? They’ve offered to, which is amazing. Fortunately we already have a label supporting us for recordings.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Wide-ranging in age (we’ve seen toddlers, college students, businessmen and grandmothers singing along at shows!); thoughtful and open-minded; they care about lyrics. There are perhaps a disproportionate number of Asian-Americans and tech geeks, probably because I’m Chinese-American and a former engineer and you don’t see too many of us becoming singer-songwriters.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Even when they disagree on internet forums, they’re nice about it. It’s almost spooky.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Old historic buildings in Europe, tiny clubs in New York, theaters in the Midwest, living rooms—anywhere there’s a warm vibe and people are ready to make music with us.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Either appearing on NPR and The Late Show with David Letterman in the span of two weeks, or driving from San Francisco to Austin nonstop on tour (28 hours). Neither is likely to happen again…

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? A live album! Alex and I recorded some shows in December 2009 and will be releasing the recordings sometime this spring.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS…increasingly not an industry, but a community. Harder to make a living now, but you meet a lot of great people who are passionate about their art.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. And Patton Oswalt.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: The Paper Raincoat (Alex Wong’s project with Amber Rubarth), Elizabeth & The Catapult, Carney, The Spring Standards; all fabulous musicians, fine songwriters and good people, deserving of your fandom.

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- COUNTRY ALBUM

VOTE NOW FOR RITA HOSKING IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Country Album

BAND NAME: Rita Hosking

WEB SITE: www.ritahosking.com

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Self-released

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Northern California, United States

ALBUM NAME: Come Sunrise

ARTISTS ON THIS ALBUM: Rita Hosking, Rich Brotherton, Glenn Fukunaga, Lloyd Maines, Warren Hood, Tom Van Schaik, Danny Barnes, Sean Feder, Marty Muse, Kathy Brotherton, and Marc Gunn.

WHERE WAS THE ALBUM RECORDED? Ace Recording in Austin, Texas USA.

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Country, Folk, Americana, and a little Bluegrass-y.

WHAT/ IF ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? On the song “Hiding Place,” my producer, Rich Brotherton, used an autoharp and hammered dulcimer. That was an unusual and brilliant move. It adds a lot of magic to that track.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? iTunes, CDBaby, Digstation, Amazon, etc…

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Fans create income for me, (for which I am very grateful,) so yes, they helped to fund it.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Cute, intelligent, can be a little scruffy, deep, and they like stories. Sometimes they cry, they give good handshakes, and once in a while they’ve got a dog or two waiting in the car outside.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They are excellent listeners!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? The Palms Playhouse in Winters, CA! Also I enjoy any good listening room with a great audience, and outdoor music festivals.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Well, I’m still making music. I’ve made three albums and continue to sell them and play live, and that makes me really happy. I was thrilled when I won the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest, and was a finalist at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour contest. But I must say that most of all, it’s when you really move someone in the audience, and they let you know–that is most memorable; to know that people are connecting with your music. It also really feels good when people learn your songs themselves.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? Come Sunrise is being released in the United Kingdom now, and my partner and I will be touring there in the summer. We’re looking forward to that! Also, some festivals, and lots of writing, and hopes to make another record soon.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS…periodically experiencing the feeling that some bugs have when they’re flipped onto their backs and their little legs are waving around in the air.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Setting realistic goals and meeting them.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? Let’s see: Talking Heads (and David Byrne), Qawwali Music (like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan), X, lots of different kinds of African music, etc…

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: My daughters; they are awesome.

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Winner/Nominee Spotlight- ACOUSTIC SONG/ALBUM PACKAGING

VOTE NOW FOR TIM EASTON IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Americana Song
- Album Packaging

BAND NAME: Tim Easton

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Joshua Tree, CA USA

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: Porcupine

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: Tim Easton, Kenny Vaughn, Sam Brown, Matt Surgeson

WHERE WAS THE SONG RECORDED? Club Roar, Nashville, TN

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Rock and Roll, Singer/Songwriter

WHAT IS THIS SONG ABOUT? A girl who wakes up after a one-night stand.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? It is the first track on the new record, and my favorite.

WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNIQUES DID YOU USE ON THIS ALBUM? It’s a blues form, but we stretched out a few bars and made it more minor key in some parts, plus, there’s a mini-bongo section right at the intro. It was recorded completely live except for that bongo overdub. All vocals were done during the recording of the basic track, which is what you hear when you hear the track.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? iTunes, Amazon, eBay, timeaston.com

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Yes

WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? All kinds of age groups: Young, indie rock kids to grizzled old dudes.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They search out music that is often under the radar.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Alaska; Amsterdam; Japan; Portland, OR; Austin and Houston; Ohio.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Opening up for Willie Nelson, and having the audience chanting, “Willie, Willie, Willie,” as I walked out on stage, then proceeding to galvanize them and make them chant my name.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? Many things: Art shows in Houston and San Diego; Truck Festival in Upstate New York; Alaska Tour 2010 is in April; I am working on two separate albums, one with a backing band done at Club Roar in Nashville called Beat the Band, and another called Campfire Propaganda, where I record myself acoustically by a campfire here at home.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… whatever you make of it.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Being satisfied with your own work.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? The Meters, Peter Tosh.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: Matt Butcher, Leeroy Stagger, The Wild Moccasins, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Madison Square Gardeners, Tim Knoll, The Whipsaws, Trixie Whitley.

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- NEW AGE SONG

VOTE NOW FOR PHOENIX RISING IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- New Age Song

BAND NAME: Phoenix Rising

WEB SITE: www.phoenixrisingmusic.net

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Self-released

NAME OF LABEL: Copus Music

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: “Seed” is from the CD Ascension.

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: Monica Williams (flute), Wendy Loomis (composer/pianist), Jennifer Lin (guzheng).

WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED? OTR Studios, Belmont, CA.

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? New Classical, Contemporary Acoustic, World New Age, Jazz.

WHAT’S THIS SONG ABOUT? The CD Ascension has 7 pieces representing each of the chakras of the body. Each successive piece rises in key signature indicating the rise from the physical body to the spiritual self. This song, “Seed,” is from the first chakra at the base of the spine. The title refers to inception, the beginning of us as individuals and as a human society.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? It seemed to fit conceptually with the creative diversity of the IMAs.

WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, UNUSUAL RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? Ascension has at its core the powerful duo of flute and piano that is Phoenix Rising. Interwoven with this is a female guest artist playing Eastern and Western instruments on 6 tracks: guzheng, tabla, hang drum, cello, voice, and guitar.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? CDBaby.com, iTunes.com, PhoenixRisingMusic.net, MySpace.com/BayAreaContemporaryMusic, WendyLoomis.com, BayAreaFlutist.com, CopusCatalog.com

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Yes. We did a “pre-sale” of signed CDs prior to the release to the general public.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Intelligent people interested in looking inside.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They read and think for themselves.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Places with wonderful grand pianos, good listeners, and wonderful ambient acoustics.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Nominations for “Best Acoustic Album,” “Best Song,” and “Best New Age Song” by the LA Music Awards, Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and Independent Music Awards, respectively. Plus, the licensing of a track to the feature film Voices of Hope, to be released in 2011.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? Festival performances in California, Chicago, Minneapolis, New York, and Massachusetts; new recording.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS…the most fascinating, challenging, and greatest business in the world!

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? To be healthy, happy, and doing what one loves on a daily basis.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? New Kids on the Block

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: Debussy, Stravinsky, Muchinski, Art Tatum, Regina Carter, Ursula Rucker, Meredith Monk

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- ACOUSTIC SONG

VOTE NOW FOR MARY FLOWER IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Acoustic Song

BAND NAME: Mary Flower

WEB SITE: www.maryflower.com

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Signed

NAME OF LABEL: Yellow Dog Records.

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Portland, OR USA

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Acoustic Blues Finger-picking, Ragtime, Lap Slide Guitar, and any other music that strikes my fancy.

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: My son, Jesse Withers, from the band Jackstraw, on bass.

WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED? Portland, OR.

NAME OF ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: Bridges

DESCRIBE THE STORY BEHIND THIS SONG: No story, really; I always hunt for nice grooves on the lap slide guitar and this one was worth developing.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? I did not choose it; my label liked it.

WAS THIS ALWAYS INTENDED AS AN ACOUSTIC TUNE OR IS THIS RE-WORKED? All of my tunes are acoustic.

WHAT/ IF ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? My old and rare Gibson Hawaiian guitar is a square neck and has been a responsive and reliable vintage instrument.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO MAKING ACOUSTIC SONGS STAND OUT? Embellishing songs in a way that helps them be memorable.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? www.maryflower.com, www.yellowdogrecords.com, Amazon, CDBaby.

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? No.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: All-ages.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? A lot of them are players and look to musicians who play well.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Listening rooms.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST EXCITING MOMENT TO DATE? Being nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the Handy Awards).

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010?: My 9th CD, hopefully.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… in bad shape.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? There are many levels of success and many interpretations of this word. I have not yet experienced success as most people know it. It is all relative! I’ve been able to support myself from music, which is a blessing, but I’m still working to be heard.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? The Decemberists.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: Rev. Gary Davis, Memphis Minnie, and many more obscure roots/blues masters.

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- JAZZ ALBUM/LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO

VOTE NOW FOR MARCO BENEVENTO IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Jazz Album
- Long Form Music Video

BAND NAME: Marco Benevento Trio

WEB SITE: www.marcobenevento.com

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? I’ve started my own label that we run through Sony Red /MRI for distribution. We’re actively signing and releasing other artists, as well.

NAME OF LABEL: The Royal Potato Family

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Brooklyn, NY

ALBUM NOMINATED: Me Not Me and DVD, Live In NYC: The Sullivan Hall Residency

WHERE WAS ALBUM RECORDED? Trout Recording in Brooklyn, with the amazing Bryce Goggin engineering.

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Every genre is up for grabs; consciously and sub-consciously, it finds its way inside.

IS THERE A THEME TO THE ALBUM? The album features renditions of songs by My Morning Jacket, Leonard Cohen, The Knife, Led Zeppelin, Beck, Deerhoof and George Harrison, as well as three original tunes.

WHAT/ IF ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? All sorts of vintage keyboards and circuit bent toys. Optigan is the secret weapon.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Everywhere: Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, all the great indie record stores like Waterloo, Louisiana Music Factory, Ear X Tacy, Amoeba, and Easy Street, among others.

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? The fans do help fund the records by buying them when they’re released. That money goes right back into the pot for making the next album.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Beautiful. I love the audience who’s been coming to the TRIO shows. It’s a really diverse, amazing bunch of people.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They listen to lots of different kinds of music. And they’re open to taking the ride wherever the music leads us.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Yoshi’s in Oakland, Le Divan Orange in Montreal, River Street Jazz Cafe in Wilkes-Barre, Real Art Ways in Hartford; there’s so many great rooms. We like to mix it up between more traditional jazz spots and straight up rock venues.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Playing Carnegie Hall on a bill with Jamie Cullum last year.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? We’ll have a new album out in May. Plus lots more touring with the TRIO, as well, as other bands I’m playing with like Garage A Trois and Surprise Me Mr. Davis.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… better than factory farming.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Playing the acoustic piano.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: Grizzly Bear, Nathan Moore, Sparklehorse, Felice Brothers, Mike Gamble

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- BLUES SONG

VOTE NOW FOR DAVE RILEY & BOB CORRITORE IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Blues Song

BAND NAME: Dave Riley & Bob Corritore

WEB SITE: www.daverileybluesman.com

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Signed

NAME OF LABEL: Blue Witch Records

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA – Mississippi Delta

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: Lucky to be Living

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: Dave Riley, Bob Corritore, Dave “Yahni” Riley Jr.,Tom Coulson

WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED?: Tempe, AZ

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?: Blues

WHAT’S THIS SONG ABOUT?: Gratitude to have survived the trials of life.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs?: (It’s the) title track and DJ/reviewer feedback.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? iTunes, www.bluewitchrecords.com, & in local
record stores.

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Our label is owned by a fan and the label funded the project.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Typical blues fans from around the world.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? The fans are devoted to the music, especially the European fans.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi and festivals in Europe like the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland and the Cognac Blues Festival in France.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Our nomination for a Blues Music Award in 2007.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? More touring in Europe and around the US.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… a changing landscape.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Good friends and enough money to pay your bills.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? I don’t have an iPod.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: Youngsters in school music programs – they are the future.

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL

VOTE NOW FOR HERITAGE ORCHESTRA FEAT. DJ YODA IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Contemporary Classical Album

BAND NAME: The Heritage Orchestra and DJ Yoda

WEBSITE: www.nonclassical.co.uk, http://www.theheritageorchestra.com/

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Signed

NAME OF LABEL: Nonclassical Recordings

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: The Heritage Orchestra Feat. DJ Yoda – G. Prokofiev DJ Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: The Heritage Orchestra and DJ Yoda

WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED? BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, UK

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Alternative classical

WHAT’S THIS SONG ABOUT? It’s instrumental, so there’s no lyrics, but musically it’s about bringing together the two contrasting cultures of Classical Music & Hip-hop.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? It best represents the most adventurous & fun side of what we do.

WHAT, IF ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? Using two Turntables and a mixer

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? www.nonclassical.co.uk, as well as all digital stores and most retail stores.

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Will Dutta, who is a big fan of DJ Yoda and The Heritage Orchestra came on board as a exec-producer on this CD and was able to raise £3000 to pay the Orchestra’s recording fees!

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Very diverse! From old school classical fans through to Electronica fans & Hip-hop Heads

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? They are very open-minded and get inspired by new explorations & developments in music.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? The kind of places that you would expect to see a full orchestra performing! So, The Scala, a big night-club / live venue near Kings Cross, London was a great gig; the audience was standing, with drinks in their hands, and DJ Yoda & Gabriel Prokofiev both did DJ-sets before & after the show: not what you’d get at the Royal Albert Hall.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE?
Our opening show at The De la Warr Pavilion, was a real thrill. Sold out and full of a really mixed & enthusiastic audience; the atmosphere was electric.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010?
The Heritage Orchestra has just taken on a residency at an amazing Art Deco Concert venue called The De la Warr Pavillion in Sussex; so there are going to be a lot of really exciting live collaborations coming up. The most recent was a 60 miniute live improvisation with UK beatboxer Beardyman.

DJ Yoda is continuing his busy DJing scheduling, playing clubs throughout Europe on a weekly basis, but has also recently started a collaboration with Internationally renown Percussionist Evelyn Glennie

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS… in the most revolutionary period since the first 78 was pressed. There are fewer and fewer barriers between the artist and their audience which is allowing talent to surface naturally. The power is back in the hands of the artists and public alike for the first time since the major record companies began monopolizing in the 1930’s.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Reaching and inspiring new audiences who intially wouldn’t have thought they could like Classical music.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? upcoming new UK rapper ENVY…!

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: Joby Burgess, The Elysian Quartet, GéNIA

THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
Nominee Spotlight- BLUES SONG

VOTE NOW FOR CHRIS JAMES & PATRICK RYNN IN THE 9th IMA VOX POP POLL.
- Blues Song

BAND NAME: Chris James and Patrick Rynn

WEB SITE: www.chrisjamesandpatrickrynn.com

ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? We are signed.

NAME OF LABEL: Earwig Music.

HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: San Diego, CA / Chicago, IL, USA

ALBUM NOMINATED SONG IS ON: Stop And Think About It on Earwig Music

ARTISTS ON THIS TRACK: Chris James – Guitar, Patrick Rynn – Bass, Sam Lay – Drums and Bob Corritore – Harmonica.

WHERE WAS SONG RECORDED? By Clarke Rigsby at Tempest Recording, Tempe, AZ.

WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Chicago Blues

WHAT’S THIS SONG ABOUT? The song is about “Mister Coffee” and his very special talents.

WHY DID YOU SELECT THIS TRACK TO SUBMIT TO THE IMAs? The song is very popular with our audience and receives the most requests on radio or live performance.

WHAT UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, UNUSUAL RECORD METHOD DID YOU USE? One unusual aspect of our song is that we did not use a traditional 12-bar Blues structure.

WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Our music is available worldwide both online and in music stores.

DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? Yes, by keeping us busy on the road with gigs.

DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Our audience is quite varied with people ranging in age from their early 20’s into their 70’s.

WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? Showing their loyalty and support by attending our live shows in these extremely tough times.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? The many Blues and Jazz Festivals throughout the United States and Canada, plus any opportunity we get to play in Europe.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BAND’S MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Our debut CD, Stop And Think About It, won a 2009 Blues Blast Music Award for “Best New Artist Debut Recording” and we were nominated for a 2009 Blues Music Award by the Blues Foundation.

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? We are currently finishing our second CD for Earwig Music, which is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2010.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS…not for the weak hearted!

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Making a living at what you love the most, and enjoying it.

WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? What our fans would find surprising is that neither one of us own an iPod.

NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU’RE CHAMPIONING: We support and champion any musician or band out there trying to keep “Live Music” flourishing and going strong!