Music

The Cosmic Lounge presents Trip-Hop Music: ‘Something Wicked’ by The Herbaliser.

“The Herbaliser is a hip-hop band formed by Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry in London, UK in 1994. Currently one of the most famous artists from the Ninja Tune independent record label, they have released 7 LPs, including a DJ mix for Ninja Tunes Solid Steel series. Their latest release is Same As It Never Was using more live instrumentation and featuring soulful vocals on four tracks. Tracks by The Herbaliser have featured a variety of guest vocalists including Jean Grae, Roots Manuva, Seaming To, Rakaa-Iriscience, Blade, Phi Life Cypher, Bahamadia, Katerine, Dream Warriors and Daniel Dumile (as MF DOOM).

The core pairing assembled a full 8-piece live band for touring purposes, and released one Herbaliser Band album. Although still a studio rather than a live album, it is distinct from the normal Herbaliser albums; the lack of guest vocalists focuses the an overall live band feel, especially showcasing the horn section.”

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Herbaliser

Duration : 0:5:11

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Producer, MC, and Definitive Jux record label founder, El-P has been a pioneer in underground hip-hop and independent music for over a decade. Check out this video as he sits with us in his Brooklyn studio and walks us through some of the beat-making process.

Duration : 0:9:56

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In my opinion, there’s always been two parallells of music: indie and mainstream. My question is how come the bands that are called "indie" aren’t even signed to independent labels. Why is indie becoming a genre, and even the bands that are called indie don’t paticularly follow these DIY guidelines when it comes to recording music–paradoxial, isn’t it?

Do you look up every band you enjoy to see if they’re signed or not?

It makes things easier to just judge them by sound.

Is Warner & other record labels commiting illegal business practices that they should be prosecuted and/or sued for by the music artists on their label(s) as well authorities regulating against trusts and monopolies?

For example I noticed some bands that were on independent labels apparently must have had Warner buy out their labels they were on. The problem with this is, sometimes when some giant sized media companies like Warner for example buys out smaller companies, they shut they independent label down and they also refuse to market the music artists that was on those labels to the public. Why do these giant sized companies do this? To shut down competition that’s been competition there commercial bubble-gum sellout fluff.
One thing they even do is refuse to allow videos whether it’s the regular videos or homemade videos of independent artists exist on You Tube.

Is this not illegal business practices, that the independent artists on the independent labels that Warner and giant companies like them bought out – should be able to sue Warner and other big companies like them for not honoring contractual obligations and be able to get those giant record companies prosecuted for doing such things?
Breezy, if that means bands are getting ready to sue Warner and other giant labels soon – I sure hope so. The bad and exploitive things they’ve been doing to bands has gone on wayyy too long.
On the other hand, these companies have been doing this for a long time and getting away with it because the government’s deliberately turned a blind eye.

Expect to see several lawsuits soon.

WATCH IN HIGH QUALITY!!! (Just add &fmt=18 to the end – Thanks YouTube)

So after Mack came on board, it was time for all of us to take a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate Bryan’s 21st birthday. It was after we came back that we had a meeting with Nikki Young, a local PR person who might be able to assist me.

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Undergrad Records: A new web series documenting the journey of a graduating college student that takes his last financial aid check to start an independent record label.

For More:
Undergrad Records
http://www.undergradrecords.tv

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I am currently looking for music to feature in the next episode. If you are interested, please message me at info@undergradrecords.com.

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Track Listing:

“Criminal” – Hotspur – http://www.myspace.com/hotspur

“Stay Crunchy” – Ronald Jenkees – http://www.ronaldjenkees.com

“Remember” – The Hint – http://www.myspace.com/thehint

“Hey” – Gillmor – http://www.myspace.com/gillmormusic

“How Much Longer” – Brave Citizens – http://www.myspace.com/bravecitizens

“Chokechain” – 3OH!3 – http://www.myspace.com/3oh3

“Scared” – Goot – http://www.myspace.com/goot

Duration : 0:9:48

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I was under the impression that indie meant independent of major labels, but it seems to have taken on a genre? Please clarify! Thank you!

Indie music is music that is fresh, unsigned, somewhat friendly

Get the FREE full DVD at www.discmakers.com/youtube

Disc Makers and TAXI present “Achieving Success With Your Music: Hard-hitting tips on marketing, A&R, record labels, and more”

Duration : 0:9:51

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So there’s debate about what "indie" music is. When I think of indie music, I think of bands that are on independent labels. But, indie has become a genre now, with bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, etc.

I guess what people don’t know is that there’s such thing as indie-rock, indie-pop, indie-metal..etc.

So when people ask for indie bands.. what do you recommend? Bands on independent labels, or of the "indie" genre?

BQ1: Favorite band on an independent label
BQ2: Favorite band whose genre is considered "indie."
I hope this makes sense, haha.
Perfect timing.. I just saw a question asking for "indie" bands. :]
OK Paperbag: I thought I’d mess up there, haha. I just see those bands always mentioned as "indie." But thanks for clearing it up.

I agree with what you are saying. I think "indie" started out as those bands on independent labels but that now the term has been used more liberally to accompany a new sort of genre. So now it is still kind of confusing but I assume people are talking about the genre as that’s the most common term usage even though it’s not completely correct. All these genres make me dizzy sometimes, meh.

BA1: Sigur Rós have been Fat Cat Records and XL (but they have also been on major labels). If they don’t completely qualify, thus, I will add Múm or Sufjan Stevens (Asthmatic Kitty Records)/
BA2: Band of Horses or Alexi Murdoch

Aside from independent meaning you belong to a lesser known music label doesn’t the term indie also have to do with if you produce the music yourself? I’m just trying to clear up my ignorance towards what indie means.

The first answerer kinda got it, but his was pretty "copy and paste from Wikipedia."

I don’t know what you mean by "produce," as in the music world, this can mean many things. I’m going to assume you don’t mean the technical/business side of producing (ie: sitting in the studio, producing sounds, playing with plug-ins) but rather the artistic side of "producing," meaning the production of something.

So yes, most "indie" bands, whether on a major label or not, write their own music and lyrics. Whether they are talented musicians is totally beside the point.

Also, indie labels aren’t generally "lesser known;" they just operate outside of the major corporate system — meaning theydon’t belong to a larger company, such as Universal, which is owned by NBC, which is, in turn, owned by GE. In fact, I would argue that in the past 20 years or so, indie labels have become more famous than their major counterparts. (See, for example, Sub Pop, Merge or Matador. Sub Pop is pretty much a household name by now; they signed Nirvana.)

However — and this is what really gets me — is that "indie" has become less about the business ideals and more about an aesthetic. You see 13 year-old girls online asking how to "dress indie" (WTF?) and bands saying they want to sound "indie." Indie is a lifestyle, but should never be regarded as a physical presence. This is why I’m more supportive of the DIY movement (IE: The Smell) because it’s more about artistic practice than dressing or sounding a certain way. Nowadays, you’ll have major label bands totally ripping off the "college rock" sound and look by throwing a bunch of shaggy-haired guys onstage in plaid shirts, giving them some guitars and having them play really emotive, expressive songs. This is SO NOT INDIE.

So to summarize: Indie is a creative mindset and not a genre. (Despite what people try to tell you and despite what major publications try to say.)

Examples of indie bands past and present:
Pavement (one of the flagship indie groups of the 90s)
The Arcade Fire (I’d still call them ‘indie,’ despite their widespread acclaim)
The Dirty Projectors (although they just got ‘big,’ they’ve been around for a while and are still pretty small)

Jale was formed by four art school students in 1993: guitarist Jennifer Pierce, who had earlier sung backup on the album Smeared by Sloan; drummer Alyson MacLeod; bassist Laura Stein; and guitarist Eve Hartling. The band’s name was formed from the first letters of the members’ first names. Local legend had it that the band formed after all four members attended a concert by Seattle band Velocity Girl; whether that was true or not, Jale’s early recordings resembled that band’s work.

Chris Murphy of Sloan introduced Pierce and MacLeod, and later lent equipment to the fledgling band and booked them for opening slots at Sloan concerts. Early singles released on Halifax independent record labels drew the attention of American label Sub Pop Records, and Jale became the second Canadian band (after Eric’s Trip) to be signed to the Seattle label.

Duration : 0:2:47

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