Rising Magazine May 2012 by Rising Magazine

May 2012

also featuring

Last Bullet Emina Bethpage Black Fantastish Global Systems

! Bluebird ! Break Through Beautiful ! Franklin Brothers ! MOTU ! Go Lazarus ! Technicolor

Editors Janet McCulloch Marianna Roetto

Promotions Director Wendy Andries

The New Age of Independent Music

Copy Editor

OUT FRONT

Kristi Curry

Editor Assistant Marguerite M. O'Connell

Contributors Sherry Brown Kristi Curry Bronwen Stewart Sarah Wilson

Cover photo by:

Joel Sigerson

Copyright 2011.Rising Magazine, LLC. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher or Rising Magazine, LLC. Rising Magazine, LLC welcomes submissions, but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Material is accepted for Rising Magazine, LLC on the understanding that it does not infringe on any copyright or libel laws. Copyrights to be declared on submission.

All free downloads used with artist permission.

Nomi Abadi

ee r Fr o f k Loo nloads Dow ide Ins

Mission Rising provides a platform for Indie artists to share their music with the world and for fans to experience the incredible talent andÂ variety of independent music that is available world wide.

We Support Indie Music! 2

INSIDE

20 Last Bullet

33 Emina

Bethpage Black

Fantastish Global Systems Hot and Rising

! Bluebird ! Break Through Beautiful ! Franklin Brothers ! MOTU ! Go Lazarus ! Technicolor

The Buzz Rising To The Top Festival My Words Support Indie Music

10 21 29 32 39

Kim Adamson

From THE DESK

s May rolls around, we present our one year anniversary issue of Rising Magazine. This past year has been a whirlwind of work, music, and research. We have watched our project expand with new features added, new staff additions and more and more excitement about our publication. Our twitter followers have grown to over 1500, and people tell me they see Rising â&#x20AC;&#x153;everywhereâ&#x20AC;? these days. As we move forward into our second year of publication, we will continue to change and adapt based on what our small staff can do, and what music and art comes our way. We are witnessing rapid changes in internet policy, copyright laws, and social networking sites. We have to move along with these changes to remain current. The magazine remains a collaboration with the artists

@RisingMagazine

We are dedicated to the support of independent musicians

as a platform to reach ever more readers and fans. As artists are required to take a greater role in their own promotion in this new climate of less record label involvement and more autonomy, this collaboration becomes even more relevant. We will continue to evolve just as the independent music industry continues to evolve. As artists find it increasingly difficult to get their music heard in a saturated market, we remain a one-stop shop for quality indie music. For this music platform to be successful, we need increased artist and fan involvement. We appreciate feedback on how we are doing. We require donations and support to continue. This is YOUR magazine. Have a wonderful spring!

Janet !Culloch

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May 2012

Briana Cuoco "Bluebird"

has been singing all her life. At the age of 8, she appeared on a popular television talent show, singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", and her love of music has only continued to grow since. In 2011, w orking with writer and producer Christopher French (Annie Automatic, Palmerston, The Why Game), she began writing and putting ideas into motion for a new project. Those ideas became the foundation of the mysterious and illusive "Bluebird". Adding in Joe Gillette as another co-writer, the songs that make up Bluebird's debut EP are a modern take on something classic. Influenced by just about everything, the Bluebird sound becomes difficult to pin-down, but it never fails to be moving and show there's a whole lot more to come. Pick it up online, and hear for yourself.

You know what it feels like. Pure blissful contentment juxtaposed with passionate angst and vigor. The idea we call love stretches many fathoms deep in our hearts to bring out the emotions of which our being is created.

Break Through Beautiful will take you through the journey of love you have felt and longed for, with masterfully planned yet tumultuous breakdowns, gooseflesh giving vocal melodies, and powerful transitions in and out and over one conceptwhat love feels like. BE LOVE, the bands doctrine and credo, resounds in us a concept of reminding ourselves why we are here in this life experience, so naturally, their music is carefully crafted around the philosophy that love is complex, necessary, intense, energetic, and heartfelt. With a production of theatrics, positivity, tautness, and precision, you will agree with Break Through Beautifulʼs story, and forever be a fan of their message.

www.breakthroughbeautiful.com http://facebook.com/projectbluebird

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bluebird-ep/id496115856

http://www.mediafire.com/?spalsep4av5bavz

www.soundcloud.com/breakthroughbeautiful

http://www.breakthroughbeautiful.com/mp3/

MOTU

Franklin Brothers,

Carl and Jay Franklin are natural born performers as much as they are creatures of the studio. For the last 10 years they have been working on their second album Lifeboat To Nowhere a pleasing blend of funk, rock, blues, jazz, and thoughtful ballads. You can tell from the diversity of styles that their musical influences are eclectic. Since Carl owns Pwop Studios in New London, Connecticut, where they recorded the tracks, the Brothers had the luxury of time which allowed them to find the right musicians to play on each song. As well, they could take the care necessary to make each song something you'd want to listen to again and again. For the release of Lifeboat, Jay and Carl assembled an 11-piece band to bring Franklin Brothers music to the masses.

http://www.franklinbros.com/ http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lifeboat-to-nowhere/id455975290

http://www.franklinbros.com/

May 2012

is an Indie NY-based Jam Band /Blues Rock recording artist and performer. MOTU's underground webbased fan club is worldwide and growing fast, which can also be demonstrated from his 145,000+ song plays on MySpace and 45,000+ self-produced indie CD sales. His 10th self-produced CD was released in 2009 to rave reviews (see review here). This CD spent over 4 months on CD Baby's Recommended CDs List. MOTU also just released a 2 Disc CD/DVD set which contains a 32 Track Hi-Def Live DVD. This new CD release features a back-up band of very well-known musicians that have played with many music greats. MOTU was a Semifinalist Winner in the International Blues Challenge (IBC) and is also a winner of two BILLBOARD World Music Awards. His music is rock with delta blues influences. MOTU has also won praises from classic rock greats for his music based charity work. His self-produced CDs and DVDs are available at iTunes, Rhapsody, and other quality music stores.

http://www.motu.net/ http://www.moturecords.com

http://www.musicxray.com/xrays/471147

Go Lazarus

is a three-piece indierock-dance band from the Midlands, UK. Formed in 2007 and taking influence from Hendrix, At The Drive-In and The Music, the trio released their debut EP (recorded over 3 days with John Rivers (The Specials, Ocean Colour Scene, Felt at Woodbine Studios, Leamington Spa) in October 2011. Combining house beats, dub bass lines and hardcore riffs they have honed their craft with over 100 gigs around the country and turned into an awesome live prospect. 2012 has seen the band being playlisted on Canadian and Australian radio, receiving the backing of local BBC radio and a number of other internet radio shows, reaching #2 in the getheardmusic.com Rock Charts and being included on a number of internet compilations. With plans to record and release their debut album in 2012 and numerous gigs lined up, this year looks set to be their busiest and most successful yet.

http://www.facebook.com/golazarus http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/3-strikes-ep/id462274445?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

http://www.reverbnation.com/golazarus

Klingklang! Technicolor creates Klingklang, wrapped in pop structures and dizzying sound scramble. It all started by creating cover songs of the very first self-bought record; songs sung by the boyhood idol. Resulting versions of those songs consisted of power chords and squeaking solo action (autodidactic, of course!). Two years later the first band assembled, which would eventually also turn out to be the last. Five years later, between poprock and acoustic shows; after tiring band practice and touring the Brandenburg suburbs, it was time for a new beginning. The band leader now had to shift for himself. This is the story of how Technicolor was created; the self-realization in image and sound. The first record, the self titled, was captured in 2010 and released digital worldwide. After a year of touring and a short time off, Marcel Krell aka Technicolor, climb the steps to the recording studio again to create the, yet untitled follow up. Klingklang!

http://www.songsbytechnicolor.de.vu/ http://itunes.apple.com/de/album/technicolor/id493279079 www.damionleetaylor.com

http://www.technicolor.bplaced.net/album2011/09-HighLow.mp3

Think INDIE MUSIC IS HOT? Help keep the fire burning! every dollar helps..... Click HERE to #SUPPORT INDIE MUSIC May 2012

s on e ment Com nix featur A e Th

May 2012

Specular Photography

Nomi Abadi is a singer/songwriter, born and raised in South Orange County. A piano prodigy, she began playing the piano at the age of three, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Arthur. When Nomi wasn't practicing piano, she was drawing, writing poems and acting out every role in the Nutcracker. She wrote her first song when she was four years old. Nomi comes from musical lineage. Her grandmother, who was Tom Waits' piano teacher, also trained all her children to play. In turn, Nomi's father was her piano instructor.

Nomi performed as a guest soloist in her first concert with the Orange County Chamber Orchestra at age five. As a child, she also appeared on numerous television shows such as Crook and Chase, This Is Amazing (hosted by Pat OʼBrien), and Showbiz Today, and was featured on the front page of the LA Times and the Orange County Register. At eight years old, she attended the Mannes School of Music in New York City where she lived for one year before returning to her native California. When she was eleven, Nomi embarked on a three-week tour of Eastern Europe, playing concerts in Budapest and Prague. At this time, Nomi was still under the piano tutelage of her father, who was vehemently opposed to her expanding interests outside of music. However, it was at this time that Nomi discovered her intense love for acting and theatre. With the support of her mother, and the divorce from her father, she performed in over fifty dramatic and musical productions from age nine to thirteen, and joined the Long Beach Shakespeare Company as their youngest member at twelve years old. Nomi had also begun teaching piano--music always remaining the prominent influence in Nomiʼs life. She graduated high school a year and a half early to attend a community college and transfer to the American

Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. One year into the acting conservatory, Nomi broke her collarbone in a car accident on her way to perform in Much Ado About Nothing. During her recovery from two surgeries and having lots of time on her hands, Nomi returned home to Orange County and the beloved Steinway she grew up with, and began composing. After nine years in the classical world and nine years in theatre, Nomi moved back to Los Angeles. She formed Wonderthings, an alternative band in Orange County. She remained the frontwoman of Wonderthings for one year before taking her music solo. Nomi has just completed her first full-length album--Chase/No Running--with the help of her team, brother/arranger Arthur and producer Christopher Eck. She is currently in pre-production for the music video of her single, “My House”, directed by up-and-coming director Lorne Raimi, to premiere in May of 2012. Nomi has had the privilege of opening for such acts as Unwritten Law, Death by Stereo, Monte Pittman (who has played guitar for Madonna and Adam Lambert), and performing live on KTLA 5 in January of 2010. Nomi is a committed animal activist.

May 2012

13 Joel Sigerson

Alex Hallajian

Rising: You started out as a classical pianist at age 3. Can you describe the emotional journey that has brought you to the angsty alternative sound your music has now? Nomi: The life of a classical musician is a very solitary one, and I was a very energetic, friendly little girl. I was homeschooled, with little to no social interaction. You can imagine how frustrated I felt daily. I had a rough childhood with an overbearing father, and he was my piano teacher. Confined to such a rigid and lonely life, I became quite fiery (...thereʼs a slight possibility I was born that way). Like every child, I had a dire need for human connection, and I was yearning to find the music I was meant to play - that I wanted to play. I long awaited the day my father left, which happened when I was twelve. But when he left, so did my professional classical music career. I still maintained an appreciation for classical music, of course. I began teaching, and still practiced, but stopped performing and touring. I had written a handful of pieces as a child, but it wasnʼt until I was 19 years

old that I began composing daily. Writing set me free, and thatʼs where I am in my journey today. Rising: Has the performance experience that you gained throughout most of your childhood as a concert pianist helped with your stage presentation as a singer/songwriter and if so, how? Nomi: Absolutely. This is also a very good question, thank you. In fact, the moment I fell in love with performing is one of my most vivid memories. I was five years old, backstage at my very first concert at the Irvine Barclay Theater. I was a few inches away from the stage, and absolutely terrified to step into the light. My hands were sweaty, my breath was trembling. My name was announced, the audience was clapping and cheering. I turned around and said to my dad, “I changed my mind. I donʼt want to go out there!” But his grip turned me around and gave me a little shove onto the stage. I was in the spotlight. In a trance, I walked toward the piano bench (which I was too small to climb up on - my dad

had to come out and lift me up and put me on it). After the audience silenced their laughter (which felt awful, by the way; when youʼre five, you think everyoneʼs laughing at you!), it suddenly felt like something had come over me, like something was controlling me, allowing me to nod to the conductor, to begin playing my piece, the first movement of a Mozart concerto in E flat Major. To this day, Iʼve never felt anything like that first moment on stage in my life. It was a first kiss. It was a drug that shouldnʼt have been legal for a five-year-old. I finished my piece, and tripped over my dress to run backstage and tell my dad, “I want to do it again, I want to do it again!” As far as Iʼm concerned, that was the moment I was born. Everything Iʼve written, and grown into as a musician and human being, has been brewing ever since that one moment. See video here. Rising: Tell us about your new album Chase/No Running. What does the title mean? Nomi: Another fabulous question! My friend Lee and I were sitting in her momʼs living room with some friends, when I said, “Hey guys, I donʼt know what to name my album. The first thing that comes out of someoneʼs mouth is going to be the title. Ready, go.” Just then, a bulldog named Chase lumbered into the room. The irony is, this bulldog, Chase, never chased after anything whatsoever. He just liked to rub his butt on things and be cute. Anyway, Leeʼs fiance says, “Chase, No Running!” We laughed at first, but thought for a moment. Then, silence. A pensive air filled the room as we looked at one another with

May 2012

Joel Sigerson

deep, knowing glances. We nodded. We knew. On a serious note, chasing my dream without running too fast after it is exactly what Iʼm doing. Rather than rushing, I prefer to chase what I want at a walking tempo. That way, I donʼt miss a thing. I have Chase, the fat and lazy bulldog to thank for my lifeʼs theme and album title. I wonder if heʼll ever know.

Specular Photography

Alex Hallajian

Rising: Did you write all the songs yourself? Can you describe the music and the sentiment behind it? Nomi: Yes, what you hear on Chase/No Running is completely original. The album is comprised of losses Iʼve suffered, discoveries Iʼve made, strange dreams Iʼve had, and people whoʼve made an impact on my life - for good and for bad. Due to my acting background, there is a theatrical air to it. Expect elements of heartbreak and satire. Itʼs extremely personal. Iʼm very fortunate to be able to seek musical advice from my other half, my brother/ pianist extraordinaire, Arthur Abadi, the phenomenal jazz guitarist, Jonathan Kreisberg, and my producer, Chris Eck. It also features artwork from the talented Douglas Walker.

May 2012

Rising: You are currently working on the music video for "My House." What can you tell us about it so far? The lyrics are very dark- are they personal to you? Nomi: Indeed, I am! Itʼs my first single, and first music video, so Iʼm very excited about it. The song is about setting boundaries and letting go. Every line is really saying, “Iʼve had enough”. I felt like I built an invisible armor around myself with that song when I wrote it. Since there are many elements to “My House”, there were a lot of different directions we talked about taking the video. The director liked the idea of taking the house in a literal direction, making the house itself just as important of a character as the girl in the video. It will tell the dark story of a

LOTA Photography

young, tormented woman who has chosen to cling to her past. Rising: You have been in a band called Wonderthings. Who started the band? Do you still perform together? Nomi: Wonderthings was a band I started with one of my childhood best friends, Marty. I had just recorded my EP with my producer, Chris (who also did Chase/No Running), and upon finishing it, drove over to Martyʼs house and played the four tracks for him. It wasnʼt even a decision - he was going to jump into the project. And he did. Marty and I always had a dream of starting a band together and we had a short, but thrilling, year-long awesome ride with Wonderthings. I wouldnʼt trade my time with my band for the world. Rising: How is your solo music similar or different from the music you did with the band? Nomi: Itʼs main difference is that itʼs just me and a piano now. I still have several songs in my set that I wrote for Wonderthings, but have adapted them for piano and voice by incorporating ʻbass linesʼ

and adding more percussion in the piano. As Iʼm still in a developmental stage with my music, the acoustic setting is the best thing for my music for now. However, I look forward to having a band play again with me. I have a list of musicians I want to perform with one day, and Iʼm keeping it a secret. Except that the list includes my favorite drummer, Matt Chamberlain. Now itʼs 95% secret. Rising: What's next on this incredible musical journey of yours? Nomi: My goal with my music is to create an environment that encompasses the same respect and admiration that classical music has. Itʼs so rare to attend a concert nowadays where we actually listen respectfully, the way we would take in a symphony. I think popular music in America today is craving that beauty and awe, and very few bands and musicians achieve that live. I am on the hunt for the right manager and producer. Iʼve undertaken a lot of work on my own that I wish I had help with so I can focus on what I do best: writing and performing. Iʼm ready to welcome someone on my team who shares my vision, and

PROMISES

works as hard as I do. I have over fifty more songs I want to record. I just completed my first residency in February at my favorite Orange County venue, Detroit Bar, and Iʼd love a residency in Los Angeles. My CD release will take place late spring/early summer. I want to continue to collaborate with gifted musicians who share my affinity for working hard and creating challenging, heartfelt and truthful material. Long-term, Iʼd like to be signed to AntiRecords, and tour the US, Europe, South America, Egypt and Israel (where my roots are). Everywhere I go will lead me to discovering a new piece of myself that I can implement into my music. Thatʼs all I want, and Iʼm open to wherever it is that Iʼm heading. Thank you for the opportunity to be featured in Rising Magazine!

www.nomiabadi.com www.twitter.com/wondernomi http://www.facebook.com/NomiAbadiMusic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJSfNn8sd0

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chase-no-running/id504408715

http://www.mediafire.com/?nz2pfjva3m3r328

Alex Hallajian

May 2012

High Energy, Sex Fueled, Guitar Driven, Riff Based, Vocal Ripping, Mind Numbing, Booty Shaking, Head Banging, Beer Drinking, Leather Wearing and quite simply... BAD ASS.

Last Bullet is the complete extreme of every single attribute that makes Rock N' Roll what it is. They are an unshakable and devoutly powerful testament to the timelessness and the invincibility of Rock. Last Bullet sounds like everyone and no one

simultaneously, with a live show and stage presence that cannot be replicated. At first listen, you may hear a handful of influences ranging from all eras of Rock, but you'll quickly realize that this is different. It all may have been done before... but not like this. Not with these elements, this passion, this charisma and this kind of confidence. The world needs a solid injection of some Last Bullet to keep things in check, and they're about to up the dosage in 2012. Be prepared. LastBulletMusic.com https://twitter.com/#!/lastbulletmusic http://www.facebook.com/lastbulletmusic http://vibedeck.com/lastbullet/last-bullet-ep

http://www.mediafire.com/?k9zw5dm4a4627c6

Your band is your business, and as every entrepreneur knows, your business is your life. "Rising To The Top" features hints, tips, and the do's and don'ts of the music industry. If you're just starting out, or have years of experience, these monthly articles will help you rise to the top!

Notice Meeeeeee How do you get noticed online? Ideas for online networking

by Sherry Brown Having a strong online presence can really help your band exposure. Granted, you may not have time for some of these ideas, but it will be worth it to have more than a Myspace account. Post your band始s biography on Wikipedia, Knol, Squidoo and other user-generated media. You will have to make an account, and these sites will have a FAQ pages to help you get started. This job can easily be handed to a trusted member of your street team.

Wiki about your industry, write what you know, whether it be a venue you played, or what direction you think Indie music is headed. Release free reports about latest events in your industry and your predictions for the future. Use a Word template to make it easy and look professional. Tie together everything. Use a FriendFeed profile,or another site that allows people to follow your online activities from one source. This also helps you keep track of your activities. Sign up for automatic alerts to see when your band is mentioned. Sign up for an account at some or all of the following: * Google Alerts * Yahoo! Alerts * Windows Live Alerts * TweetBeep (Twitter) * Technorati * Google Blog Search Set your notifications for the broadest coverage, and as frequent as possible. Keep these mentions for future PR use. You may want to contact the person who mentioned you to thank them, also a sneak peek for your next single or magazine article. Don始t forget to add their name to your mailing list

May 2012

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Photography by Tony Gigov Emina grew up with Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Iron Maiden, AC/CD, Dio and all the other classic rock and hard rock bands, which is remarkable because in her home town folk, country and line dance were considered top entertainment. She spent hours singing ever since she was a child and joined her first band as a teenager. Soon singing became more than just a fun way to spend the evenings, and she started her singing lessons with an opera singer. On the verge of enrolling for college she entered a talent show â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and made it to the finals.

May 2012

So next she found herself in the offices of a major label and was signed for five years. This brought her local fame, radio airplay and TV appearances, and she loved sharing the stage with some of her idols like Uriah Heep, The Cult and Motörhead. But she also felt a decided lack of artistic freedom and couldn´t get any farther inside the strict structure. Nor did she earn a great whacking load of money and was not at all happy about the label not promoting her internationally. When the five years were up she moved on, and drew up in Vienna, Austria, with eleven original tracks all worked out in her mind. She teamed up with the indie SixtySix Records for an album release and a band was formed. “Itʼs the best one Iʼve ever had,” she states. Mary on drums is a professional live and session drummer playing folk, jazz and rock equally well; Andy on bass was the most asked for session bass player for all major productions in Vienna back in the 80s before he quit playing when his best friend and band mate, guitarist Karl died; his other band mate from back then is Steve who fills all the necessary guitar parts for Emina, and he and Andy also toured with Manfred Mann, Uriah Heep and Alannah Myles. Together the band is like a monster unleashed on stage. From the beginning there was magic between those four musicians. In next to no time the first songs were released as a teaser for the album and Emina started to entrance audiences all round with their energetic live performances. In March 2012 the full album was released, a set of classic style hard rock tracks coupled with modern groovy AOR and some gripping power-ballads. Now the band is set for touring to get the message out. So: What next? “We will start recording the new album soon,” says Andy, “and thereʼs some video productions in the waiting line. But really, what we love most is gigging. We want to tour a lot!”

Rising: Youʼve described your sound as vintage rock with elements of 70ʼs & 80ʼs hard rock, blues and just a hint of pop. Reviewers have compared your sound to Heart, Pat Benatar and Whitesnake. If you had to pick the song on your latest album, Take #1, that is most representative of the artists that musically influenced you, which song would you choose and why? What song on the album best represents the sound of Emina today? Emina: I would have to say that the song "I'm Leaving" was influenced by the earlier phase of Whitesnake - you know, heavy melody and the heartbreaking lyrics :-). I think today I'm somewhere in between "Action Girl", "Bitch" and "I Am The Future". Can't pick only one song :-). If I have to choose Iʼd say “Action Girl” represents that present sound best and is probably pointing to the future too somehow. “Action Girl” is a mixture of modern rock and

elements of pop, not too heavy but also not a typical ballad. Rising: Tell me about the song-writing process for Take #1. Do you typically write songs by yourself or is it more usual for you to collaborate with others? How long did it take to record this album and where was it recorded? Emina: I write lyrics and sing so I always work with the people who make music. Collaboration with someone while working on the songs is just the way I work. Sometimes I write the lyrics to the existing music, other times I just write lyrics that can inspire the good music. The album Take #1 was recorded in Austria in the Room 66 studios belonging to my label between October 2010 and July 2011. Rising: What始s the funniest/oddest place you were when the urge to write down lyrics for a new song struck? Was that song included on Take #1 and if so, which song is it? Emina: That could be when I brush my teeth? I don't know if this can be considered funny or odd. The

May 2012

refrain for "I'm Leaving" got to me while brushing. The other one was made up in bed... that's the way I came up with "Bitch". Rising: Tell me about the television talent show on which you were a competitor. What made you audition for the show? How long were you on the show and how far did you go in the competition? Emina: It was surreal. It happened so quick I wasn't even aware of what was really happening until I was at the semi finals. All the people I knew were nagging me about that upcoming competition, but I wasn't going to sign in for that. So they did it for me! My best friend applied for me, and even though I was a bit angry with her, my competitive spirit quickly took over, and of course the adrenaline, the excitement, bright lights, enthusiasm! Rising: Was your signing with a major recording label the result of appearing on the television competition? When did you first realize that your first label was not supportive of your making hard and loud rock music? What was it that attracted you to

the Indie label Sixty Six Records? Emina: Yes it was. I realized that while working on a song I absolutely hated, but had to do. I thought everyone would hate it, too. Actually, It was the other way round. They heard me sing and saw my video and they liked me. When they heard my demos they were thrilled and wanted to start working on them right away. We just clicked. But it was becoming clear soon afterward that I was not going to be included in the songwriting process at all nor in any other vital decisions. I was being made and was going to be made into a sweet girlie pop singer, because the label thought they would sell me best that way. I didnʼt really mind so much at first, I thought it could work, I thought it is a new experience, I will learn a lot. But after that first album I knew it should have been rock music for me from the beginning, and the label just wouldnʼt do it; they kept me hanging on, saying, “Yes we will start recordings for a second album, only now the studio isnʼt free,” and things like that. There were several things that I liked about the indie label. They gave me a good contract, they regarded me as a partner and not a ware to sell, they were going to promote me internationally — funny thing is, the big label had the means, they had the best entry into the market but did no international promo at all! This indie label, they work in a small country in the center of Europe, they have a small budget but they are totally into international connections. But what really gave me the last kick for the decision was when I saw how the label was working with an orchestra of teenagers. They were touring and I met them at a concert. I saw how they had established a really great relationship with these teens, their parents, the conductor of the orchestra ... I saw how the label boss was doing the hardest jobs himself, carrying heavy PA, doing the

sound and lights at shows and more, to make sure it was going to be a good show. I felt this was a trustworthy label. Rising: Do you have plans to promote your music in the coming months and if so, where? Are there any shows planned in North America? Is touring in North America something the band would like to do in the future? Emina: Sure, there is a lot of promo going on all the time. Touring is easiest in Austria at the moment, because it is the home base of my label. We secured a slot on the ĘťDonauinselfestĘź in Vienna, which is one of the biggest open air festivals in the world - there are like 12 stages of music and some more doing comedy and children's programs, and the entry is free! Something like a few hundred thousand people seem to be there every year. We are also negotiating a contract for eight shows in Germany, some shows in Czech Republic and Slovakia and in Italy. For 2013 we plan to tour the UK because we already have had a lot of press

May 2012

there and secured the offices of a PR agency handling all the promo for the UK for us. Touring the USA? Hell, yeah!! It is the next goal! We are making the contacts now, getting local people involved, and securing the help of a street team. It still has to grow though, and we are also looking for a good partner to do the PR for the US and Canada for us. We plan on making a special campaign to involve fans in helping us tour the States â&#x20AC;&#x201C; already there are some people who have gone so far as to devote a lot of time in giving us ideas and making contacts with venues and local bands! As for promotion, we are very active all around the net, using twitter, facebook, youtube, jango and many more social networks and promtotional platforms and I can say we already sold as many albums in the UK and the USA as we did in Austria at live shows, so this shows that we are not only converting people we meet to fans but also people who can only listen or watch videos on their PC.

http://www.emina-rock.com/ http://www.facebook.com/EminasRockWorld

http://itunes.apple.com/at/artist/emina/id439999894

http://www.mediafire.com/?s9e9gcbaffm18g7

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006G4K6E4/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1325517019&sr=1-49

http://www.youtube.com/user/EminaRock

Festival Five A small Rising selection of Independent Artists at Music Festivals ! ! ! ! ! ! !

The Festival:Summerfest has over 700 bands, with the music industry's hottest stars, and new talent. “Set against the Lake Michigan and downtown backdrops, creating a festival experience like no other.” When:June 27-July1 and July 3-8 Where: 200 N. Harbor Drive Milwaukee, WI For More Artists and More info: http://www.summerfest.com/

Fitz & the Tantrums - http://fitzandthetantrums.com/ Soul- “Six killer musicians, five dapper suits, irresistible songs, some serendipity and one vintage organ.”

La India - http://elmundodeindia.com/ Salsa- Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and raised in the South Bronx, also known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa".

AWOLNATION - http://awolnationmusic.com/ Electro-pop- (Aaron) “Bruno built a kind of creative free-for-all for himself, allowing him to blend genres as he wanted in a style reminiscent of Beck, blending live instrumentation, electronic elements, and slick production into an electro-pop hybrid that draws from the whole of pop music.”

Head and the Heart- http://www.theheadandtheheart.com/ Americana- “Each song explodes into a potent supernova on stage, where half the audience is zealously singing along with every lyric, and the other half is wishing they knew the words.”

Heartless Bastards- http://www.theheartlessbastards.com/ Rock- “With its impressive range and undeniable vigor, the album flies straight, honest and true, the finest distillation yet of this extraordinary rock ‘n’ roll band’s fiery, unforgettable sound.”

May 2012

BETHPAGE BLACK

Photography by Hayley Murphy Photography Even if you're not among the cognoscenti of the Long Beach, CA, music scene, you'll recognize from the first note of Bethpage Black's EP Black Music that it ain't the usual reggaefunk, hip-hop or indie-pop-whatever-rock. “Call it ‘Sickle Pop,’” says drummer Steve Coy. “It’s pop-rock with a sharpened edge.” Black Music reflects this sensibility, and a http://bethpageblackmusic.com/ spectrum of influences, as guitarist Davin Givhan puts it, "from Beethoven to Metallica." http://twitter.com/#!/_bethpageblack Bethpage Black’s quintessentially 21st-century roster is as diverse as the music they make. Coy and Givhan (touring guitarist for Saul Williams & Lauryn Hill) met in high school, reconnecting via http://www.facebook.com/bethpageblack Facebook (and a shared Pantera affinity). They met singer Matt Carmichael fronting a wildly popular 80!s cover--ahem, tribute--band, while bassist Vivien Larena http://itunes.com/bethpageblack arrived via today's go-to musical marketplace, Craigslist. From Carmichael’s powerhouse vocals and Givhan’s prodigious chops to Larena’s tasteful bass lines and Coy’s precise, aggressive drumming, it’s their talent that sets Bethpage Black apart. Co-produced and mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, http://www.youtube.com/bethpageblackmusic My Chemical Romance), Black Music proves that, as Carmichael says, “this band can play whatever we want to."

May 2012

MY WORDS

This is a place where artists, fans, and music industry professionals, in their own words, can share their experiences in the Indie Music World

RISING ABOVE & BEYOND How Fans Can Help Artists On Tour by Kristi Curry Street Team Leader for Run Run Run & Xander Smith You are not an average fan. You want more than to simply attend a concert – you want to get involved! What can YOU do to rise above and beyond for the independent artists you support? Consider taking some of these extra actions during your favorite indie band's next tour: BUY MULTIPLE TICKETS. Did you know many venues pay bands based on a minimum head-count? Ten tickets sold may equal a paycheck, while nine tickets means no payday. Purchasing an extra $10 ticket or two can make the difference between the band receiving hundreds of dollars or performing for free. Plus it's also a great personal motivator to bring friends to the show - you wouldn't want those tickets you purchased to go to waste, right?? OPEN YOUR HOME. With the high price of gas, hotels can be an unaffordable luxury for touring musicians. Do you have extra beds/floor-space, showers and/or a hot meal you can offer your favorite artists? Contact them through social media (ie, Twitter/Facebook) before they go on tour – you may be just the “hero” they're looking for! PROMOTE. Excited about an upcoming concert in your town? Ask the band if they have posters you can hang at your local coffee and/or record shop. Share their music with your friends and tell them to spread

the word. Talk about it on Twitter, Facebook, email, phone, text – whatever! Your enthusiasm is the artist's most valuable advertisement! RULE THE MERCH. 1) BUY: Not only are you getting awesome stuff, but you're putting money straight into the artists' pockets. Tshirts are great mementos and cds make perfect gifts! 2) SELL: Offer to help out at the merch table and be the best salesperson they ever had! 3) BRAG: Share photos of your goodies online and tell others where they can get those awesome shirts/cds/posters for themselves. BE SANTA. Want to bring a smile to a band's face? Bring a gift to the show! How about some homemade cookies (if they know you) or some healthy snacks for the road? Or maybe a gift card to a sandwich shop or a gas card for that other empty tank? Your extra thoughtfulness can make a big difference to a tired and hungry musician. Is any of this expected from the average fan? Absolutely not! Want to go above and beyond for the artists you love – just as they do for you on stage? Think of ways you can exceed their expectations. Your dedication will create an unforgettable experience – for all of you!

Fantastish Global Systems May 2012

Fantastish Global Systems is a rock band from Ukraine, Kiev city. It was born in the summer of 2007 when two friends, Aladdin Shchaslyvyi (drummer) and Oleksandr "Fantastish" Chalyi (guitarist), met together to have an experimental rehearsal. We enjoyed the rehearsal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and that was a huge surprise for both of us. So we had another rehearsal, and one more after that. Our rehearsals became regular, and each time they were giving us an enormous amount of happiness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a lot of good energy.

http://fantastishglobalsystems.com/ http://twitter.com/Fantastish_GS

http://www.facebook.com/FantastishGlobalSystems

From 2007 through 2010, we kept playing together and searching for own unique sound. We found it in http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/under-the-sky/id501461183 December 2010 while making our single "Ann Radio". After that, 20 more tracks were recorded, and 12 of them became the base of our debut album Under the Sky, which was released in February 2012.

http://soundcloud.com/fantastishglobalsystems/do-you-see

May 2012

http://www.indiebible.com/rising Click for The Indie BIBLE

https://nt4.magma.ca/

Click for bigmeteor/ivbrising_order.cfm The Indie Venue BIBLE

http://chainsforchains.org/

Rising

and Beyond the Dawn both support indie artists, so it seemed a perfect match to contribute our picks to the show. All artists featured in Rising have a chance to be our "Pick of the Week". Internet radio is a great way to get exposure for indie music and for music lovers to discover great new sounds. Please support TDawn and Beyond the Dawn and listen for our pick of the week on Rising Notes

http://alienfingerz.ning.com/page/beyond-the-dawn May 2012

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Check out these artists showing their support for Indie Music in their own unique way!!! Want to show your support too? Send a pic to submissions@risingmag.com and we may publish it! Use the words “Support Indie Music” in a creative way!

Tony Gigov

Emina

May 2012

LOTAÂ Photography

Nomi Abadi

See our April 2012 issue for these artists!

Wendy Andries

Xander Smith

Blaze & Kelly

May 2012

Travis Royce

Hell & Lula

Regina Visconi

Standing Shadows

See our March 2012 issue for these artists!

Broken Romeo 42

Gentlemen Hall

Chamber of Echoes

R始Chive

Eric Lawson

See our February 2012 issue for these artists! May 2012

Kylie Edmond

See our December 2011 issue for these artists! Lauren Wolf

LizMartin SoundQ

Carlos N贸brega 44

Brian Patrick

Quinn Ivory

turn off your television

See our November 2011 issue for these artists!

Seasons

LizMartin

Don Q Photography

Xavier Toscano

May 2012

Tha Vill

See our October 2011 issue for these artists!

LizMartin

Blare LeVoir

Asteria Photography

See our September 2011 issue for these artists!

Hank and Cupcakes

Patrick J. Eves

Tomorrows Bad Seeds

Sarah Ault

Marie Bergstrรถm

Mark Kawakami

May 2012

See our August 2011 issue for these artists!

Evolove

Greg Eident

Stitched Up Heart

See our July 2011 issue for these artists!

Vintervila Johanna Elvira Bakke Haarstad

Fans Of Jimmy Century

Ember Swift

Josh Damigo Daniel Chin

Lü Qiang Qiang

My Cousin, The Emperor

May 2012

Patrick J. Eves

See our June 2011 issue for these artists!

Brian Mackey Steve Reganato

Liz Martin

Mumiy Troll Dmitry Plavshudin

Cisco DeCun

Paul Smollen

Run Run Run

Maitland

Jeff Crosby

Brianna Bambic

Vicky Sue Baucom

Greg Eident

Monte Pittman

Paul Smollen

Barbara Dengel

Mouth

Alo and The Narcissist Steve Reganato

Aspen Switzer

See our May 2011 issue for these artists! May 2012

A sincere Thank You to all of our readers, artists and staďŹ&#x20AC; that make Rising Magazine possible