I know, I know.
You’ve all been waking up, every morning, wondering, “Where, oh where, has GarageSpin disappeared to?”
That’s too long — and not nearly interesting enough — a story to tell.
BUT, I can share that I’m in the process of launching my new music project and/or “producer/band” identity: Phonic BOOM.
I’m working on my first song, to be part of an eventual EP, and can’t wait to share it. Stay tuned!
I finally finished the track and accompanying music video for the Mark Zuckerberg Facebook rap, Zuck, On Facebook. Check it out. (If you like it, please pass it on — it’s just in time for Oscars and the Social Network.)
As I recently mentioned, I’ve got a DRAFT of Zuck, On Facebook, my Mark Zuckerberg nerdcore rap ditty. It was a fun project, and I don’t really know what to make of it. In a couple days, I’ll release a final version, plus a YOUTUBE VIDEO a few days after that.
So, here it is:
Boo-yah…
After The Social Network won a Golden Globe for best picture, I was inspired to write a rap (a first for me) from the point of view of Mark Zuckerberg, in response to the movie, the bad press, the law suits, etc etc.
The poor 20-something billionaire deserves a voice, after all….so I thought I’d help with the next best thing — a phat beat. Other song projects “Avalanche”, “In 9 Months”, and “Thank You” have since been placed on the back burner in favor of attempting to complete both a track and video for my new rap, “Zuck, On Facebook“. Amazingly, despite my long-standing history of taking inordinate amounts of time to complete tracks, I’m virtually done. All that’s left is mixing in a guest appearance by Girl Crusade in the bridge, a last-minute collaboration we recorded just last night.
The mix should be completed tomorrow, and I’m hoping beyond hope to shoot and edit a basic music video as well, all by next Monday, in time for the Oscars a week later. Is it possible? Barely. Wish me luck as a slave away in my attic…
For the first time in a very looong time, I have the house to myself. Though I love and miss my family, I’d be lying if I were to say I’m not a little excited by the prospect of free time. Here’s to getting a solid song draft finished this weekend.
In fact, I’m calling myself out. I WILL have a song draft finished this weekend. Ya hear that, blogosphere?? The song, no matter WHAT state it’s in, no matter how much it makes my ears bleed from the pain, WILL be posted no later than Sunday at (arbitrarily) 5:00 PM EST for you to enjoy or destroy.
There. Just writing that feels good. Pressure-driven deadlines do wonders for me… Wish me luck.
The “behind-the-scenes” video of my recording “Just Say Yes” is now live.
As many of you know, I spent a few weeks recording an acoustic cover of Snow Patrol’s, “Just Say Yes”, the single from their new album Up to Now. I also recorded video of myself doing it for a YouTube experiment. See what you think…and if you’re up for it, maybe even favorite it? 😉
My acoustic cover of the new single by Snow Patrol, “Just Say Yes“, went on sale yesterday (two weeks before Snow Patrol’s version will be in stores on Oct 30th). How’s that for an unsigned band moving faster than a record label? Digg It!
Snow Patrol’s “Just Say Yes”, the single from their new album Up to Now, caught my attention with its techno qualities, atypical of the band. I thought it might be interesting to record a stripped-down, acoustic version of the track, using an acoustic guitar, cello, a capella beatboxing, and piano. So I did – check it out below.
I also thought it’d be interesting to capture video of myself recording the song for a YouTube video as an experiment. I’ll be posting that video here in a few days — stay tuned!
Check out the track, and let me know what you think in the comments below. (You can even compare it to the original Snow Patrol version.) Though I can’t give the track away for free (I’ll need to pay royalties on any sales to Snow Patrol), it’s available at the new GarageSpin Store, for anyone interested.
Once the video is launched on YouTube, I could really use your help promoting it — giving it ratings, “favorite” votes, etc. It’ll be fun to see how it does.
In case you’re interested, you can also:
Thanks for listening!
My songs Spinning Daydream and 20/20 Foresight are being used in the new spy-thriller webisode series, The Oligarch Duplicity. Sweet!
They’re in Episode 3, which aired today, and which I’m embedding below. Saxon Mills is the digital video company producing the series. They’re also producing an online fictional newspaper, The Metrocity Times, containing articles and columns that refer to events unfolding in The Oligarch Duplicity.
You can play the “I Heard a GarageSpin Song” Drinking Game with me by sipping your favorite beverage every time you hear one of the tunes in the background…
GarageSpin was one of 1,000 bands (selected from over 400,000 at ReverbNation) to be part of the newly launched Sponsored Songs program that Microsoft is sponsoring.
What This Means For…
YOU: You can download my song “Spinning Daydream (Acoustic Remix)” for free, an acoustic remix exclusively available through the program (along with 999 more exclusive tracks from other bands).
MICROSOFT: Microsoft gets to slap their logo on 1,000 pieces of album art, as well as generate awareness for their new Windows on Myspace presence.
ME: I get $0.50 per download, up to a $50 cap, and bragging rights.
Bands were selected by Reverbnation based on a combination of fan counts, song plays, song downloads, and profile visits, leveraging fan activity to drive the selection process. As I write this, GarageSpin is #34 in the Alternative category, and #404 across all categories. Check out the 1,000 song catalog, the songs are actually pretty good (and if you feel so compelled and/or generous, please download mine while you’re at it 😉 ).
More detail is available in ‘social media speak’ in the press release, as well as at Marty’s blog (Microsoft Group Marketing Manager and Social Media Strategist). Some interesting discussions have spawned at Hypebot, with artists both praising and trashing the new program. Healthy debate stuff. Some artists think the caps are insulting, whereas others are psyched about the promotion. As a social media marketer, I think it’s a pretty sleek way to drive brand enhancement and awareness. As an artist, I appreciate the promotion, payout, and press kit-building opportunities. As a music fan, I enjoy wallet-free music discovery. Kudos, ReverbNation.com.
Did I already mention the “Spinning Daydream (Acoustic Remix)” free download? I did? Nevermind, then… (Hey, the baby needs a new onesy…)