How Would Pitch Your Band to 4AD?
By Victor - Monday September 19th 2005 |
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THE BACKGROUND
It is 1985 and the skies are grey. The Cold War is on and the U.S. and U.K. are hungover in the midst of stingy Reagan-Thatcher rule. The advent of the ugly yuppie class has sent jaded university kids retreating into the beauty of music and art, and naturally, the two have co-mingled into a budding genre of art music, where the visual component will be as important as the sound.
4AD Records emerged as the ultimate stable of this new sound, home to such art bands as Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Pale Saints, Lush and, from across the pond, Throwing Muses and Pixies. Rather than a shared sound, the bands were gathered under an umbrella ethos of pure artistic integrity over commerical compromise.
Take yourself back to 1987. You grew your bangs long, collected a handful effects pedals and found yourself in the middle of this scene. You decide to form a band and send a demo to 4AD Records…
THE CONTEST
What is the name of your band? Who plays what instrument? What does the LP cover look like? What’s your album name and what are some of your song titles?
Send your entry to [email protected]
THE PRIZE
Our favorite response wins our respect and a pair of tickets to see Dead Can Dance at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, September 25.
THE DEADLINE
Wednesday, September 21 at 5pm. Now get crackin.
[...] If you can’t make it to MOCA Saturday night to watch Peanut Butter Wolf spin (and/or you simply refuse to for personal reasons), you’ll have some interesting options Sunday: He’s spinning alongside Waajeed (of Platinum Pied Pipers) and Madlib at night, but losanjealous is actually recommending you catch the 2pm in-store set at Fred Segal of all places. Face it, you can catch an in-store at Amoeba any day of the week. But does Amoeba sell $600 cashmir sweaters in mandatory autumn colors? Thought not. The show is free; bring $1500 for clothes and a few bucks for parking in Santa Monica. If you plan on seeing the Wolf with Madlib and co. Sunday evening evening as well (free with RSVP) in lieu of Dead Can Dance (win free tix from us), you might strongly consider RSVPing as noted below so you can pick up your pass while there. Sunday, September 25th Triple 5 Soul, The FADER Magazine & Turntable Lab in association with Transit Events Present The First Annual SOUL SESSIONS TOUR LOS ANGELES! [...]
[...] Earlier this week we held a contest for a pair of Dead Can Dance tickets (link). The winning essay surpassed all expectations and is reprinted verbatim below: [...]