Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Littoral Records


Changing the world, two ears at a time

A word of advice for young players

Max Savage 3

Hi Max,

Just wanted to thank you for the demo EP you sent to Littoral Records. I like your work. 'Less A Man' in particular is a ripper, well done. 

But I wouldn't waste $$ on mailing physical demos anymore if I were you. Nor do I really think Sonicbids is really worth the money any more — it was, but the industry moves on. Lose MySpace too — it's rapidly becoming The Place for Bands That Will Never Make It.

Instead I'd recommend http://bandcamp.com. Costs you nothing unless you sell something and you can sell all your music on it. The material you've sent me in the post is absolutely sellable on Bandcamp. You can also stay in touch with fans, give them something to post on their own web pages, and sell in multiple currencies. Add your own domain and nobody will know you didn't pay $10,000 to get your own shiny website.

You really don't need a label anymore unless you need someone to manage a big back catalogue of large revenues. Go get yourself a fanbase by performing, performing, performing and then keep them in the loop on Bandcamp. Don't stuff around with albums-worth of material, just record, produce and release each song as you finish it. Hell, release the rough cut, then release the final, and see if you can sell them both. As long as you're honest about it you'll probably get more support from fans for doing it.

Have a friend follow you with an iPhone or a cheap video camera whenever you can and get into the habit of putting it online. Nothing builds a relationship with a new fan better than low-fi wobbly-cam amateur video.

If you're ever up in the big smoke, see if you can coincide your visit with a gig including Brendan Gallagher. Nothing that man doesn't know about recording and producing the kind of music you're making, he's usually generous with his time, and he knows a lot of influential people. http://brendangallagher.com.au

If there was something I thought Littoral Records could do for new acts I'd say so, honest. But in the present environment, your priorities should not include signing with a label. First, get big. A label really and truly can't help you with that anymore unless you're also on Australian Idol.

Best of luck with it,

- Alan

alan jones
chief hindsight officer
changing the world, two ears at a time

3:51 of Bryan Brown's Aussie kitsch with a beautiful soundtrack

Karma County's Brendan Gallagher penned this song and recorded an original version with spoken-word lyrics but felt his own voice wasn't quite right. It needed something more Australian, more gravelly. He knew someone who knew someone who worked for Bryan Brown, Australian actor of past Hollywood fame.

Brendan worked up the courage to write to Brownie and ask if he'd consider recording the track with the band and appearing in a music video. The actor said yes, because his kids thought it was a hilarious idea that their dad might appear in a pop song.

TV gardener Costa Georgiadis was a long-time friend and supporter of the band, and his mum's pristine 1950s Sydney home was used as the location, with original furnishings in place. Costa's unmissable face plays an essential role in the last few frames of the clip. Bryan Brown's own classic brown Holden Kingswood stars in the opening shot and other friends of the band and director Sean Kennedy play the support roles.

Littoral Records covered the extremely minimal production budget. We don't usually assist with music videos but this was a one-in-a-million opportunity and the result speaks for itself. 

 

Dexter & Sinistra from bigyahu on Vimeo.

Dexter & Sinistra © 2010 Karma County All rights reserved.

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