Volume 2, Issue #15

Craymo

If you were forced to label Craymo’s debut album “Cosmos,” you would have a serious problem on your hands. The New York native brilliantly combines guitar driven modern rock with dance to bring forth a unique pop/punk sound that cannot be explained, but only experienced. And with a vast array of influences that include The Cars, Duran Duran, George Michael, David Bowie, U2 and The Beatles, it’s easy to understand why. Craymo, who recently signed a non-exclusive distribution deal with the L.A. based Indie label Statue Records, is working hard to create his own buzz through radio, internet and film.



Five Questions for Jeff Creamer

1) Was it exciting to get your first real break on the original Star Search when you were just a little tike?
“I had to go against the returning champ. I had the crowd going for a while and I though I was gonna win. But I didn’t. It was a really fun experience though.”

2) Tell us about your first full length album “Cosmos.”
“It’s centered around my life and experiences. It’s very positive and uptempoed. There aren’t any ballads on it and the lyrics are on the lighter side. There are a few songs I’m really happy with like “Static Surfer” and “One Love, One World.”

3) That second one has an intriguing story behind it, doesn’t it?
“Yeah. It’s a song about peace. After I recorded it, I submitted it to the website www.newsongsforpeace.org, which is designed to raise awareness of making society a better place for the kids of the world. As a result of being on the site, two children's elementary school choirs in California and Indianapolis have performed the song.”


4) Several of your songs have been used in independent films. How did that get started?
“I had some friends who were directors and they were like can we use some of your songs in our movies. Then word spreads and other people hear your stuff and if it fits in with what they’re doing they use it. I’m a hustler, so I just keep submitting stuff and see if people are interested.”


5) Now that you’ve signed a deal with Statue Records, what moves do you feel imperative next?
“I’m still seeking out a manager and another label to help promote my new album even further. I feel those two outlets will help bring my music to the masses. It’s a full-time job promoting your own music.”

----Joseph Barracato

TV On The Radio

The surprising success of the Brooklyn-based group TV on the Radio is a result of a chance meeting. Vocalist Tunde Adebimpe left Nigeria after high school to pursue a filmmaking career in New York. As fate would have it, he ended up moving into the same building as David Sitek, who had just produced the Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Machine” EP and their full-length debut “Fever to Tell." The duo began working together and produced a few demos. Sitek's brother Jason, then provided the drum work for there a self-titled, 24-track CD released by the Brooklyn Milk Imprint. The trio, then recorded their Touch & Go debut the “Young Liars” EP in 2003. The band went on to add guitarist/vocalist Kyp Malone to lineup and began gigging. Their first full-length release “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes” arrived this past spring and has sold over 47,000 copies in the U.S. Recently, amidst touring, TVOTR released their second EP “New Health Rock.”

Five Questions for TV On The Radio

1) Your sound has been described as a collage of electronic fuzz, dark pop and jazz. What do you guys think it’s?
“All we know is that we didn’t want to sound like anyone else. Whenever we’re recording, if we did sound like something else we would scratch that song or revamp it.”

2) How do all the artistic personalities coincide?
“”We never knew it was going to when we were recording. But after the release we realized people were digging the music. We bounced ideas off each other and it worked to our benefit.”


3) I’m guessing that’s how you guys create music?
“Now that makes it sound a lot easier than it is [the band laughs]. Someone would come into the studio with material and we’d all listen. We’d give some suggestions and then work on it together.”

4) The band is about to wrap-up a 13 month, off-and-on world tour. What was the experience like?
“It’s been a lot of work, but we’ve really enjoyed it. We’ve traveled to some beautiful places. We’ve even been able to work on some new material on the road.”

5) Are you hinting that a new record may be in the works already?
“After the tour, we only plan to take a little time off and then head back into the studio early next year and work on our second album. We can’t tell you how excited we are to try out some new stuff.”


----Joseph Barracato

Classic Rock “Springs” Back Into Action

After a long hiatus, a handful of vintage bands are set to give concert dwellers a reason to fire up their old bongs again. Fans will get a chance to experience four legendary acts, three of which already have been inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.


U2, a band that is certain to join that list, is set to start their tour on March 1 in Florida to support their new album "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." The follow-up to 2000’s multi-platinum “All You Can’t Leave Behind” has quickly become the most anticipated rock album of the year and is due out later this month. The “Elevation” tour in 2001 grossed $104 million from 106 shows worldwide and provided fans with intimate and extended performances. They plan on approximately 35 U.S. arena shows in the spring and 30 stadium shows across Europe. Then, the Irish quartet will return to North America for another 35-date arena tour, before heading out to Japan and Australia.


Vintage rock trio Cream will reunite for a slew of shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, the site where guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce called it quits in 1968. It will mark the first time the band has performed together since their 1993 induction. No dates have been announced, but they do intend to meet after the holiday season to rehearse their material and finalize some shows. For now, Cream are only planning for a week long’s worth of gigs, but haven’t ruled out a possible extension.


The Who are almost set to release their first studio album since 1982 in the spring. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, the lone surviving original members, have been working vigorously in putting together new material in which they intend to showcase in a mini-tour sometime during the first half of next year.


Rounding out the timeless acts are The Eagles, who have lined up a 13-date North American tour for next spring that will begin in March. The band, who is actually touring Australia right now, has been treating fans to some new jams including "No More Cloudy Days" and "One Day at a Time" in addition to their classics.

----Joseph Barracato

Q: What is the real deal with Publishing?

-- Borg 5

A: Compensation and administration are the most important topics an artist must understand about publishing. Compensation packages can vary from publishing deal to publishing deal; from publishing company to publishing company. Therefore, I will keep this as simple as I can. Generally speaking, publishing companies negotiate for 50% an artist’s royalties (Mechanical, Synchronization Fees, etc). In return, the publishing company gives the artist advances that enable them to live and continue refining their art. Artists should be aware that most advances are recoupable.

The great thing about publishing is that as long as your song (copyright) is used or played, you are entitled to the fees negotiated for the use of that song. This will not change until your copyright has becomes public domain. That is why accurate administration is so important. It makes it possible to track and pay appropriate monies to all afiliated parties.

Administrators collect monies from all entities that have used your song both locally and internationally. Generally, administrators charge 15-20% of monies collected for their service. It should be noted this fee usually is taken prior to the 50-50 split between the artist and the publisher.

--- Adam P.

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