They draw inspiration from Muse, Coldplay, Mew, and Radiohead. They have already shared the stage with Yukon Blonde, Secret & Whisper, Bend Sinister, Winter Gloves, The Zolas, Said The Whale, and Mother Mother. We Are The City is currently a Top 20 finalist as part of 100.5 The Peak FM’s BC competition, the Peak Performance Project.

Listening to their instrumentation and orchestral arrangements you will readily discover their potential for greatness is simply palpable. Cayne has been classically trained in piano for eight years and playing for twelve. David and Andy are both self-taught musicians.

In person, and during their witty banter in between songs on stage, you will find these three young men endearing, awkwardly funny, and incredibly sweet. They are brothers drawn together to explore their own musical renaissance. Having just reached the winter of their teens, their innocence and sincerity will pull fans in to find their own fists clenching at nostalgic summer days with bruised teenaged knuckles. These three young men may be comical, humble, and sweetly adorable, but their music is not to be taken lightly. With their booming stadium-ready sounds and stirring melodies, they are set to continue to steadily gain fans of all ages around the globe.

We Are the City will convince you with their good hearts and inspiring sounds to come and be a part of their city.

Funding for wearethecity.ca was provided by MuchFACT

In 2003, with borrowed monies he started 105 Recordings Limited LLC, a music production company.  Due to an opinionated legal battle, Sutton was incarcerated shortly after.  However, his sheer will would rule against his criminal conviction.

In 2005, from a prison cell he penned four books, which includes his compelling life story ‘CONVICTED BUT NOT CONVINCED From Bars to Ballads.’  Later, Mr. Sutton decided to promote and distribute his recordings and books himself.  Lloyd W. Sutton is a superb producer and a prolific songwriter.  His songs ‘Mirror Image’ and ‘Sinless Sex’ opened the ears of the mass media, and his country tune ‘Red Mustang’ has struck a chord with commercial audiences across the nation.

105 Recordings Limited has signed a stable of little-known artists who all have strong work ethics and promising careers.  Sutton has taken quite a bit of criticism for his approach to health giving with his outlandish commentary and wayward opinions but he proclaims its all for a good purpose.  “The hospital doesn’t differentiate in helping people, so why should I?  I want to be an assistance to all mankind, not just one special grouping,” he says with a peculiar smile.  Mr. Sutton is in the early stages of independently filming the documentary movie, ‘From Bars to Ballads’, to visually display his incredible turnaround, further proving that a haunting past doesn’t always mean darkness, but a light forever visible even if you’re the only one who can see it.  His new life mantra is BUILD THE DREAM AND LET IT BUILD YOU.  Sutton’s vision of becoming a successful businessman is noteworthy and it’s helping to restore his once stained character and warped reputation in the process.

This new WordPress version allows more of the team to have access to update the company news and numerous projects without having to know any html. The site not only features Hipjoint’s amazing body of work but also features a mobile version which automatically transforms the site into a web-application experience when viewed from an iPhone/iPod touch, iPad, Android, or BlackBerry Storm touch mobile device.

The new site will also be allow content to be displayed via traditional web browser or mobile device, such as iPhone/iPod Touch, Android, & Palm Pre. Hipjoint can event publish content to the site via mobile device if desired.

Funding for hipjointproductions.net was provided by MuchFACT

All of the songs created by The Ex Box Boys are tracked at the world famous Robert Lang Studios which is home to Seattle’s best rock stars including Nirvana, The Foo-Fighters, Dave Mathews, Candle Box, Heart, Linkin Park, Alice in Chains, Warren G, Death cab for Cutie and many, many more. Each of The Ex Box Boys songs are combed over by the  best engineers in the business and the songs are produced by veteran producer Justin Armstrong. This is hit song material.

Each one of the songs rank at least a 9.8 on Hit Song Science, which is the software used by Labels to pick which songs to release on the radio by an artist. The Ex Box Boys can not only write great music, they can write for YOU too. We are always asked to write jingles, commercial music, and or just a good song about someone special. At present, The Ex Box Boys are represented by Apple Hill Records of Seattle, Washington. Apple Hill is not a major label by any means, but we are trying our best to fill orders and anticipate the highly anticipated release “Chronicles of the Orb”. We are attempting to release this CD through all gaming locations worldwide.

While The Ex Box Boys write music about X Box games, you would never know it by listening to it.  If you are interested in using The Ex Box Boys music in one of your projects please email Tim, the CEO directly at Tim@applehillrecords.com  and we will promptly get back to you asap. All of the Ex Box Boys music is available vocally, musically, and or we can re-mix for any situation.

Thank you so much.

Tim Reynolds, CEO APPLE HILL

The quintet released their first full-length studio record, “Stories Not Forgotten”, in spring 2007, a boisterous, independent follow-up to their rockin’ 2005 EP “Cato”, along with a banging collection of live recordings, and are back in the studio laying down their next release expected to drop Spring 2010. Wassabi Collective has shared the stage with such well-loved artists as Michael Franti and Spearhead, Femi Kuti, Hot Hot Heat, Randy Bachman of The Guess Who, Bedouin Soundclash, Garaj Mahal, K-OS, Bassnectar, and Ganga Giri. They have lent their vibe to many of Canada’s music festivals in the last few years including Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, Kokannee Crankworx, Sunshine Music Festival, Kokanee Summit, Whistler Music and Arts Festival, Komasket, Victoria Folk Fest, Evolve(5,6,7), Sunseekers Ball, Shambhala Music Festival, and Come Together. Their long list of charitable performances include the Music4Change Oxfam Benefit.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

1. Won 2 BCIMA’s for Album of the Year & Best Female Performer 2008. They were nominated in 5 categories.

2. Won 4 Toronto Exclusive Magazine Provincial Awards (2007) for Best World Song (“One Day”), World Album (“Stories Not Forgotten”), World Group, and Website, October 2007.

3. Won Best Song in the Jam category for “Blues on my Mind” at the 2007 Vox Populi “Peoples Choice” component of the Independent Music Awards.

4. Three songs featured on PBS series, “Roadtrip Nation,” Sept. 2007

5. Sonicbids spotlight band, March 2007

6. On the cover of HERE magazine, New Brunswick’s urban voice, March 2007

7. No. 1 “On The Verge” band (Relix Magazine), March 2007

8. Showcased at Canada Music Week, March 2007

“Wassabi Collective is critically acclaimed as one of Canada’s best live independent bands.For over five years, they have enthralled audiences from coast to coast with their dynamic,explorative jams and eclectic…soul-satisfying sound…”
(Off Centre Magazine-Dec 2005, Kelowna,BC)

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Téa was introduced to the piano at the age of 7. At 12, she started playing the guitar. After moving with her family to Vancouver, BC, she started writing songs at the age of 14, received the Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (A.R.C.T.) diploma in piano performance at 18, and a B.A. in music from the University of British Columbia at 22.

Most recently, out of over 450 applicants, Téa was one of the top 20 finalists in the Peak Performance Project. She has won 1st place in the R&B/Hip-Hop category of the 2008 International Songwriting Competition for her song “Fire & Flame”. This contest accepted over 15,500 entries from nearly 100 countries around the world. Téa was also the first artist to be featured on Virgin Radio’s ‘Best of BC’ new artist series. Additionally, her song “Fire & Flame” won 3rd place at Music BC’s Songbird West Songwriting Contest.

Since 2004, she has collaborated with award winning songwriter Annette Ducharme, and has worked with producers Troy Samson of Hipjoint and John Webster. Her collaboration with producer Howard Redekopp resulted in the 2008 debut EP Method to the Madness. This CD helped her land a performance on CTV’s Good Morning Canada, Global Morning News, and Urban Rush. “Fire & Flame”, the EP’s first single, has received airplay on Virgin Radio, The Peak 100.5, CBC 1, Radio 1 in Greece, and Belgrade 202 in Serbia. Right now, she is working with a Vancouver based songwriter/producer Dane Deviller and mixer Roger Swan.

With Jeremy Scott on bass, Vladan Nojkovic on drums, and KG on beats and additional keyboards, Téa has played over 150 shows since the release of Method to the Madness including appearances at The Vancouver International Jazz Fest and New Music West.

Growing up in North Vancouver, Ben spent most of his time training in the fresh mountain air. After a few successes, including a World Cup win, Sigston was awarded an “athletic scholarship” to a mid-western US university. However, not long after attending, his life blew apart.

Within a few months, a pressure-filled environment, punishing physical training and two near death experiences took their toll, leading Sigston to some serious soul searching and an alteration in course. “It seemed evident to me that I had to change my circumstances,” Ben says, “I jumped on a plane and went back to Vancouver. I quit biking, sold all of my gear, and used the money to buy a guitar.”

This abrupt life change wasn’t as random at it might appear, as Sigston had been heavily influenced by music his entire life. He studied piano at the age of five, followed by the drums. There was always music in the house – the Beatles, Dylan, as well as his dad’s own band, holding practices in the basement.

In fact, in Ben’s world, music and athleticism have always been inextricably intertwined. When his focus shifted to music, lyrics and sound became his outlet. Instead of training away his frustrations and emotions, Ben began to write about them.

Over the last seven years, Ben has been relentlessly pursuing and refining his writing process. His music is filled with juxtapositions that compare and contrast thoughts, feelings, reflections and actions.

“For me, music is powerful. It’s a way to see into an experience or a situation that can be related to in one way or another.” I remember reading a quote that said “Being an artist is like being a tourist”, and I think there’s some truth to that. Artists and tourists are always observing and discovering new things. It’s the artists job to internalize the event and then to recreate it… to express it.”

Whether they are simple ideas, or wide ranging thoughts, Sigston has an uncanny ability to convey himself through the melody of song. His music successfully cuts through the noise of modern existence, and extracts simple, universal truths: hope, love, redemption and the search for meaning.

Sigston has clearly struck a chord both with the public and with the industry, landing showcases for major labels and a recent development deal.

Ben’s struggles and his successes are both captured in “Free Now”, his new EP. The EP is a glimpse into his personal reflections and the overriding theme of the redemptive quality of love.

Every year, twenty finalists from BC will receive an intensive, one week training program in the music business, live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion. Artists will benefit from mentorships from some of the music industry’s top professionals and performers. All of these artists will have the chance to perform live in Vancouver on the PEAK Performance Stage.

Of these twenty artists, five will receive professional demos to be released under the project. From these, the top three will be crowned as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development. First place receives $150,000; second place receives $75,000; and third place receives $50,000.

]]> http://www.ssmediaco.com/2009/10/peak-performance-project/feed/ 0 http://www.ssmediaco.com/2009/10/freeflow/ http://www.ssmediaco.com/2009/10/freeflow/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:36:42 +0000 admin http://www.ssmediaco.com/?p=1376 Who is Freeflow? For anyone who’s seen the band perform, the answer is simple: they’re an energetic band that brings people out of their seats with a compelling combination of songs with great hooks and great vocal harmonies.

A much greater challenge, however, is describing Freeflow’s sound, which features everything from hip-hop and funk to reggae and rock. They have often been compared to bands like The Roots, Sublime and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, yet have nurtured a sound distinctively their own. “We have six members in the band with very different musical tastes but lots of common ground,” said lead singer Jason Evans. “What we try to do is combine the music that feels the best to us. We can’t help but fuse elements.”

Since founding members Jason Evans (vocals), Reece Worth (guitar), Wilson Padmos (keys), Ryan Davis (drums), and Simon Davies (bass) came together in 2001, the band’s music has evolved – something that is more than obvious to anyone who has seen the band live or listened to Freeflow’s two well-received CDs.

The dynamic of the band has since blossomed and has encouraged Freeflow to push it’s sound and live performance to new and exciting levels.

Although FreeFlow has been together for almost six years, and has played great Festivals and venues with world-class luminaries from around the world, the band looks to 2009 with even greater hopes, dreams and aspirations.

The Painted Birds have a distinct sound that is rhythmically dynamic and melodically rich. The fusion of Dominique Fricot’s powerful voice with Shawn Berke’s melody-driven bass lines and Josh McNorton’s effects-laden guitar conjures up intense emotions for the listener. Fricot co-writes most of the songs with Berke and working with him feels like fate. “I’ve never been more confident in anything in my life until I started writing music with Shawn. It’s not only regimented and professional, but it’s also spontaneous and can happen at the drop of a hat without any instruments around.”

2009 has already been an incredibly busy year for the band. They have showcased at Canadian Music Week, performed at JUNO Fest, and made their debut south of the border at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Most recently, The Painted Birds were selected out of 450 artists to participate in the Peak Performance Project, a five million dollar initiative sponsored by Vancouver’s newest AAA station, 100.5 The Peak FM.

On October 6th, the band released a new single, “Wash Away” which was produced by Shawn Cole (You Say Party! We Say Die!, Bend Sinister), mixed by Warne Livesey (Matthew Good Band, 54-40) and mastered by Joao Carvalho (The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts). The new single is available for free download on the band’s website, www.thepaintedbirds.com