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You heard it here first... DiS launches singles club for the digital age. 45 digital singles per year, (available from all good download stores) with the launch of an annual subscription later in 2006.
In years gone by, brave micro-labels made it possible for you to buy 7" and CD singles from interesting new acts trying to break their way into this big filthy music world. From Sub Pop you could have discovered Nirvana or Mudhoney and even this side of the pond with Fierce Panda you had Coldplay, Keane and 3 Colours Red one week to Lapsus Linguae and Seafood in the next. DiS loved these labels, who now struggle with the near-death of the single and have inspired us, in the digital age and position we've moved into (where even the Financial Times have started comparing DiS to Myspace!?) to help new acts reach a new world.
In the past few years our escapades in the label world have led us to releasing the first Kaiser Chiefs single and signing Martha Wainwright as our first major album success. This Digital Singles Club will be the first time however the site and the label have really crossed paths. At the end of the day, there's too much music we love from acts that don't have records out and we want you all to be able to hear it and for the rest of the media to listen in and champion it too. Who knows where it may lead? We're certainly not planning on letting a plague of Kaiser Chiefs on the world but we hope that over the coming years you'll discover some favourite bands, here, first, in the same way you do with the babblings all over the DiS site.
The plan is to release 45 digital singles, worldwide, every year, to keep the number 45 synonymous with the single. Every release will be distributed by vitalpiasdigital.com, available digitally via all download stores including iTunes, TuneTribe, Virgin Digital, etc.. and the soon to be launched DrownedinSound.com shop powered by 7Digital. You'll also be able to pick them up on all major mobile download services including O2, Orange Music Player, T-tunes, etc. Some releases will be complimented by limited edition 7" singles either on DiS or other great labels. When the club is fully established annual subscriptions will be available, to keep your ears topped up with great new artist, with the minimum amount of effort.
The Current Release Schedule includes:
LES INCOMPÉTENTS
www.lesincompetents.co.uk
Engrossing, entertaining and fresh-faced London band whom many of you will have seen at our 5th Birthday Party. The single is currently being championed by Steve Lamacq (including 6music Single of the Week) and XFM’s drive-time show (Single of the Week there too). In the next few weeks you can catch them in session on Rob Da Bank’s BBC Radio 1 show and acoustic on Virgin Radio. We love this band a lot and are excited that they will launch the club. The single is available physically on CD and 7" through White Heat.
'How It All Went Wrong' March 20th.
EMMY THE GREAT
www.emmythegreat.com
Emmy makes songs that slant between folk and modern indie, complete with blog-like lyrical twists and turns. She has recently been in support to Martha Wainwright, KT Tunstall and tours throughout March with Euros Childs of Gorkys Zygotic Mynci. You can read more about Emmy in this months Dazed & Confused. A limited 7" version of 'Secret Circus' will be available via the wonderfully titled Fear and Records myspace.com/fearandrecords.
'Secret Circus' released March 27th.
METRIC
www.ilovemetric.com
They hail from Canada (via New York and various other places) and kicked off 2006 with two nights in NYC at Madison Square Garden, supporting the Rolling Stones as Mick Jagger’s personal choice. They're one of the best bands in the world today (sorry, don't mean to hype) and have just signed an album deal with DrownedinSoundRecordings. Catch them live at SxSw, Coachella and on tour in the UK in May. The single will be backed by the MSTRKRFT remix of 'Monster Hospital', as heard on DiS Radio.
'Poster of a Girl' released in April.
BAT FOR LASHES
www.batforlashes.co.uk
Somewhere in a world between Kate Bush and Stina Nordenstam you’ll find Brighton’s Natasha Khan. She has already been picked by Devendra Banhart to play his day at All Tomorrow's Parties festival and been tipped by The Times and influential French publication Les Inrockibules. Some of you may have caught BFL opening for CocoRosie back in December. She's an unique and special talent.
'The Wizard' is set for release in May.
KOMAKINO
www.myspace.com/kkkinoxxx
NME called them "Britrock's best new band" and Lamacq won’t stop talking about them. 2005 was spent touring with Razorlight, ¡Forward, Russia! and Hope of the States. They play on the Bloc Party fanclub tour throughout March and tour with Metric in May. The single was recorded at The Cooper Temple Clause's Bleak House studio and produced by Ant Theaker of Hope of the States. A limited edition EP, featuring the track, will be available at the band's shows.
'Kommunikate' is set for release in May.
Phew! Hope that's enough to whet your appetite. We're currently waiting for paper to be inked on a few other exciting things and will have more details soon. We'll be looking for more acts from around the world to sign-up at SxSw and on our various travels to places as glamourous as Norwich. To be kept up to date join the Drowned in Sound Recordings mailing list:
