New Releases

Nettwerk-managed indie pop-folk artist Radical Face (aka Ben Cooper) -- who released his critically-acclaimed sophomore album The Family Tree: The Roots in North America in October on his own Bear Machine label -- has just inked a deal with Nettwerk's label side for the album's release in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Family Tree: The Roots will be out at the end of January/early February (release dates vary across each territory). Hauntingly beautiful, Radical Face’s new album glimmers with folk, pop and Ben’s wide-open vocals. His European tour kicks off January 23rd with back to back sold-out shows in London. See below for full list of dates. 

After four years of honing the album concept, which depicts the life and tribulations of a family from the 1800’s, Ben recorded The Family Tree: The Roots alone in a tool shed and limited the songwriting to instruments that would have been accessible in the 1800’s. Incorporating piano, acoustic guitar, a floor tom, and voices, he only brought in additional instruments of the era during tracking when needed. From soaring tracks like “A Pound of Flesh” and “Severus and Stone,” to eerily dark pieces like “Black Eyes” and “Kin,” to warm, enlightening gems like “Always Gold” and “Mountains,” the songs flow together with mindful artistic clarity, allowing the listener to fully escape into the album as the stories unravel.

Keep reading for European tour dates.

Mark Klasfeld (Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Flo Rida, Kid Rock, Bon Jovi, Gnarls Barkley) directs the brand new video for fun.’s breakthrough single “We Are Young” feat. Janelle Monáe; a collaboration with hip-hop master, Jeff Bhasker (Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, Alicia Keys and Beyonce) the producer on the band’s anticipated Some Nights, out February 21st (Fueled by Ramen). Fans can experience fun. firsthand this winter when the band takes on a headline tour of North America to showcase new music along with fan favorites—see below for a full tour itinerary.

Keep reading for full list of tour dates.

As part of the ongoing earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, State Radio shares a new track with fans, “Roadway Broken.”

The song is about a mother searching for food for her children after the 2010 earthquake, and will be available as a free download on Tuesday, December 20. There are several ways for fans to get the song: 1) tweet about the song, 2) tweet about donating to Haiti, 3) share a message to Facebook about the song and Haiti and/or 4) buy it at Bandcamp for $1. Half of all proceeds will be donated to Stand With Haiti: a Partners In Health service organization to provide health care, clinical and social support and rebuild and reinforce the public health systems in Haiti.

For more information on “Roadway Broken,” visit: http://aktfiles.com/state_radio/splash/
For more information on Stand With Haiti, visit: http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti

State Radio will soon be announcing 2012 touring plans, including dates in Europe and the US. In the meantime, bandmember Chad Stokes is prepping for a handful of west coast solo dates and Dispatch’s first jaunt to Europe. See below.

Young Liars - Colours Single by nettwerkmusicgroup

Nettwerk Records is pleased to announce the signing of Vancouver’s latest indie rock sensation, Young Liars. Comprised of five multi-instrumentalists, Young Liars deftly experiments with synth-pop, electronic and indie rock to create catchy indie pop hooks.

Revered as an integral part of the local soundscape, the quintet’s compelling style has set them apart from indie rockers of the same flavor with driving, layered and thoughtful arrangements.

Young Liars is the latest addition to Nettwerk’s expanding label roster, which includes active artists like Ladytron, Peter Murphy, Angus & Julia Stone, William Fitzsimmons, as well as catalogue artists like Old Crow Medicine Show and fun.

In near infancy, the blog darlings have already garnered sold-out shows and a promising EP, Homesick Future (set for release February 21st). Today, Nettwerk Records shares lead track, “Colours,” from the forthcoming EP. Included in the release is a remix by fellow countrymen, Teen Daze.

Nettwerk Management client Hem have just released a beauitful original holiday song called "Identical Snowflakes" (listen below). The New York-based band has been busy in the studio putting the finishing touches their upcoming release, Departure and Farewell, due out in 2012. "Identical Snowflakes" will be featured on the full-length as well. 

Identical Snowflakes by ColeenN 

The Submarines - Selections from The Shoelaces EP by nettwerkmusicgroup 

Los Angeles duo The Submarines—Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti—are celebrating the holidays with the release of a new 6-track EP. Out December 20th, the Shoelaces Ep features stripped-down versions of “Shoelaces” and “Fire” (from their latest critically-acclaimed album Love Notes/Letter Bombs), covers of New Order’s “Your Silent Face” and Jesus & Mary Chain’s “Just Like Honey,” and a re-worked and slowed-down version of the band’s most popular track to date, “You, Me And The Bourgeoisie,” recorded at Eagle Rock, CA studio The Ship. For this week only, the full EP is streaming exclusively at PasteMagazine.com.

Of the stripped versions of “Shoelaces” and “Fire,” Hazard says, “The original tracks seemed to hatch almost fully formed in the studio, with most of the instrumentation arranged and recorded before the lyrics. After months of touring and sometimes getting to play stripped-down versions of the songs, we really wanted to capture this simpler sound of two people playing in a room together. Going back and sort of reconstructing them felt more intimate and connected--just a very different feel from the big-beat versions.”

The Shoelaces EP is currently available for pre-order in iTunes, with a physical version being sold through the band’s webstore. Fans who purchase the EP through the band’s online store (here) also receive a free pair of Submarines-themed shoelaces (yes, real shoelaces!).

Keep reading for more information.

Photo Credit: Christine Merson

Singer/songwriter Jay Brannan returns to the UK in April for a set of dates in support of his anticipated sophomore full-length album, out early 2012. “Beautifully,” the first official single from the album, will be released Tuesday, January 17 (Monday, January 16 in UK). See below for a full list of tour dates.

“Beautifully” showcases Jay’s talent for storytelling as he shares the plight of a person falling for a close friend whose attraction lies only in the realm of the platonic. The track, along with the entire upcoming album, was produced by Grammy-winning producer David Kahne (Regina Spektor, Paul McCartney, The Bangles, Lana Del Rey, etc.), who adds instrumental textures to Jay’s songwriting, hinting at a slightly new direction for the minimalist artist.

Keep reading for tour dates. 

Pop-duo Ash Koley have released a new video for their latest single, "Apple Of My Eye," from their Canadian debut album Inventions, which is set for US release in 2012 on Nettwerk. The single is also available for purchase on iTunes now HERE.

Singer Ash Koley and producer/songwriter Phil Deschambault began their musical collaboration in 2004, when the two self-proclaimed nerds from Winnipeg were introduced by a mutual acquaintance. Phil was looking for a singer who could relate to his sound, and Ash's velvety voice did just that. Together, their sound is an amalgamation of diverse influences, from Abba to the Eurythmics, and from Peter Gabriel to Radiohead. The result is a band that is a full embodiment of what they each bring to the duo - quirky charm and upbeat classic pop music.

Stay tuned for more news from Ash Koley.

Out Today, Chadwick Stokes (State Radio, Dispatch) & Friends release Live At The Armory on Ruff Shod/Nettwerk Records. Live At The Armory was recorded over two nights at the annual Calling All Crows’ benefit shows in December 2009. Featured tracks include State Radio classics - "Calling All Crows," "Keepsake," "Gang Of Thieves" - in addition to inspired covers of The Rolling Stones’ "Sweet Black Angel," Bob Dylan's "Girl From The North Country," Sam Cooke’s “Bring It On Home To Me," and others. To listen to the album and view full track list, see below.

Next year, State Radio (fronted by Stokes) is set to contribute their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “John Brown” to Chimes Of Freedom: The Songs Of Bob Dylan Honouring 50 Years Of Amnesty International. The four-disc collection includes 75 newly recorded Bob Dylan covers by over 80 artists, including Elvis Costello, Adele, Jackson Brown, Tom Morello, Queens Of The Stone Age, Miley Cyrus, Patti Smith, Diana Krall and others. Chimes Of Freedom is executive produced by Jeff Ayeroff and Julie Yanatta and scheduled for physical release on January 24th in the US and January 30th internationally.

In the meantime, be sure to catch Chadwick Stokes & The Pintos on tour. Dates below.

Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” the break-out single from their 2004 debut album O.C.M.S., has been certified GOLD® by the RIAA®, with sales nearing 600,000 digital tracks. To celebrate, the band will release a “Wagon Wheel” Limited Edition 7” Vinyl on November 22, 2011.

Originally sketched by Bob Dylan and later finished by Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor, "Wagon Wheel" remains the band's most revered and top-selling single. The 7" vinyl will be numbered and feature a previously unreleased b-side, "All Night Long" (Live). To pre-order the “Wagon Wheel” Limited Edition 7” Vinyl, visit: http://amzn.to/uv62qG.

Secor reflects on the history of “Wagon Wheel”:

“Wagon Wheel” is a gold record 75 years in the making. Back in 1995, I first heard Bob Dylan sing that striking chorus on his unfinished 1972 studio outtake of “Rock Me Mama”. Being an audacious, banjo-picking teenager, I quickly rattled off three verses and rushed it out to coffeehouses and street corners, singing it to anyone who would listen. In 2003, seeking a copyright to the song, I learned that Dylan had credited it to Memphis songster Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, who recorded the 1950’s boogie-woogie number “Rock Me Mama.” From there, I learned that Crudup attributed the song to Mississippi-turned-Chicagoan Big Bill Broonzy, who recorded it way back in the late 1920’s. So, from Big Bill to Big Boy to Bob and on down to me, “Wagon Wheel” has become a true American folksong, borrowed, half-stolen, and sung out far and wide. The rest, as they say, is history.