Your Music Magazine

You may have heard the single “Sail” on commercials for “The Good Wife” or “House” and it was also used by base-jumper Jeb Corliss on one of his videos. As soon as I heard “Sail”, influenced by Styx “Come Sail Away”, I knew I had to listen to the entire album. The album is wonderfully done should be listened to by music lovers of all genres. Offering a little bit of something for everyone the album takes twists and turns through the styles of music presented. “Guilty Filthy Soul” shows the true extent of Aaron Bruno’s talent as not only a musician but also a songwriter. Also notable about the album is the fact that the guitarist takes a backseat to the keyboardist on most tracks and it works very well for the album. The album is heavy on synthesizer but that adds to the extremely creative and pleasing sound of the album. “Soul Wars” features an energetic drum beat paired with fast paced synth riffs that make for an amazing electronica/punk tune. “Wake Up” is a catchy song full of melody and harmony and has a hip-hop vibe to it. The album as a whole is magnificently produced, shows extreme talent and musicianship and is one of the most musically diverse albums I have ever heard. – Jamie Candelaria

In their third studio album, The Fray provides another masterfully crafted piano pop-rock masterpiece. The story telling in this album is on point. Adding a new producer, Brendan O’Brien to the team was a good move for the band, the production on this album is finely tuned. This album has more of a rock edge than previous albums and it works well for the band.  The band has received some criticism for not changing their style but I found that part of what I appreciated about the album. Although this album did not feature any of their normal catchy choruses, the style is the same and the result is a wonderful collection of songs. Front man Isaac Slade shows off his lyricism skills on the tracks “Run for Your Life” and “The Fighter” both of which are similar to what you would expect to hear from bands like Coldplay.  “The Wind” and “Here We Are” are the albums most rock infused tunes while “Turn Me On”, has of a funkier sound to it. “Heartbeat” the albums’ single, and “Life” were written after Slade went to Rwanda and showcase the bands global awareness. The album closes with a lullaby “Be Still” that has a dash of Celtic influence.  – Jamie Candelaria

In Sacramento there’s a lot of local talent. Mostly you hear of rock bands and singers on the local scene. However there is now a growing Hip-Hop movement in Sacramento and Zebulon is a part of this movement. Bringing remarkable lyrics, great emceeing and impressive beats to the table, Zebulon provides listeners with Hip-Hop and a blend of Electro to create a sound that is truly amazing. They are a great addition to the Sacramento music scene and there is no question as to why they along with a few other groups inspired Marilyn’s on K in Sacramento to bring back Hip-Hop night. If you have never had the chance to hear Zebulon you should definitely check them out on Reverbnation, iTunes, or Facebook. They are also holding their CD release party on January 6, 2012 at Marilyn’s on K in Sacramento which is a show you won’t want to miss. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Zebulon Griffin from Zebulon for an interview and this is what he had to say. By Jamie Candelaria

Zebulon is: Zebulon “Zeb” Griffin; Vocals, drums, production and Brian Fleshman; Keys, drums, production

How did you and Brian come together to form Zebulon?

We met at Guitar Center that seems to be how a lot of people in Sacramento meet, in 2006. We started doing music shortly after that. We started a group with a couple of friends from Guitar Center called Soulifted. We did that for many years up until last year. The whole time we had been doing music on our own together as well. So we finally decided that we would put something out together.

How would you describe your music?

Zeb: It’s Electro-Hip-Hop. There are a lot of cool twists of electronic music embedded into it but it’s really deeply rooted in Hip-Hop. With the lyrics I try to do a lot of story- telling.

What age did you become a musician?

Zeb: Since I was four I had a huge interest in music. Probably around ten or eleven I started trying to write. I became really into music when I was 14 and began playing the drums. From there on out I became pretty passionate about it and began recording at 15. The rest is history, I’ve been doing it ever since.

Have you always done Hip-Hop?

Zeb: Yeah as far as trying to promote my own stuff, it’s always been Hip-Hop.

You grew up in Atlanta do you think that had a big influence as far as you choosing Hip-Hop as your genre of choice?

Zeb: Absolutely. I was heavily influenced by Outkast. Down there people like all types of music so I was also listening to Otis Redding, Chili Peppers, Hip-Hop, pretty much anything I could get my hands on.

What Musicians inspire your music?

Zeb: There’s definitely a Radiohead influence as far as the music goes. There’s also a lot of electronic influence. From Brian’s standpoint there’s a lot of influence from Boards of Canada. For me Outkast was a big influence as well as Lauryn Hill’s record which I listened to a lot when I was a kid.

Zebulon does something a little different than a lot of acts when you play live, you play the drums and rap on stage but your beats which you have already produced yourselves are played on the sound system as you perform. That’s a little bit of a different approach but it works well for you guys, how did you come to the decision to do that?

Zeb: Well we’re both drummers and started out that way so we wanted to bring that to the live show. I was in the drum line and that was a big thing for me. We wanted to incorporate that into our music. As far as when we do music on the record we’re inspired by a lot of electronic as well.

Who writes your music, is it collaborative?

Zeb: It’s collaborative. The EP we just released is I would say about 90 percent is Brian as far as production with me doing drums on certain tracks. I produced Sea of C’s, a song comprised of mostly words beginning with the letter C. It is collaborative effort. I write all of the lyrics.

Do you find that a lot of your music is personally influenced?

Zeb: Definitely. Especially on this particular record, there’s a lot of stuff that I haven’t written about before that I brought to the table that is very personal.

What is something that you want people to know about Zebulon?

Zeb: we want people to know that we’re here! We’re trying to put down our roots in Sacramento and branch out from there. We’re Electro-Hip-Hop and we bring something different to the live shows.

There aren’t many Hip-Hop groups in Sacramento as far as the local scene is concerned does that make it easier or harder for you guys to find venues to play?

Zeb: Right now it seems to be in our favor. I heard that Marilyn’s wasn’t too keen on doing strictly Hip-Hop shows and it had been a while since they did that until we did the show with the Ricky James Project and Iconoclast Robot. They seemed to really enjoy it though and they are stoked to have us back so it’s kind of helped us in a way and that’s awesome.

January 6, 2012 you’re holding the CD Release Party for your EP Future Flash, what can people expect to hear on the EP?

Zeb: The EP is a lot of story-telling and electronic music cleverly twisted into Hip-Hop.

What can people expect next from Zebulon?

Zeb: Lots of shows. We’re constantly working on music so we’re already plotting our next release, probably for mid to late 2012. I’d say the goal in the next year is to branch out of Sacramento and maybe do a small West Coast tour by the end of the year.

“The Warrior Show” Teasers Posted Online; 
Featuring ASKING ALEXANDRIA and I SEE STARS

An exclusive sneak peak into “The Warrior Show” has snuck its way online and these videos feature THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR ambushing ASKING ALEXANDRIA and I SEE STARS to give them all an intense reality check that is unlike anything they have ever experienced before. The ideology of the pampered rockstar lifestyle doesn't exist in the One Warrior Nation and you won't want to miss out on this eye-popping preview into “The Warrior Show.” Head over now to the links below to see what all of the hype is about.

“The Warrior Show” w/ASKING ALEXANDRIA (Episode One)
http://www.youtube.com/blanktv#p/a/u/0/_3oQtmakhtM

“The Warrior Show” w/I SEE STARS (Episode Two)
http://www.youtube.com/blanktv#p/a/u/1/oO72EM1XFhk

Sports Entertainment Living Legend THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR leads an extreme motivational mind/body/soul work-out combining intensity, passion, comedy and inspiration. The first two special guests are influential, cutting edge bands from today's hard rock scene. “The Warrior Show” will be unveiling new content over the coming weeks so stay tuned to any of the links below for constant updates and additional footage. Join the One Warrior Nation

Follow The Warrior Show on Twitter @TheWarriorShow

Follow Ultimate Warrior on Twitter @UltimateWarrior

http://www.Facebook.com/TheWarriorShow

Virginia hip-hop/funk duo CSJQ has been named as one of Music Connection's Hot 100 Unsigned Artists of 2011 list for their debut EP, The Life. The highly anticipated December issue spotlights indie artists and bands that have exploded onto the scene in the past twelve months with their music and live performances. The issue will hit newsstands this week.

The group also earned their first-ever nomination for this year's Hollywood Music In Media Award (HMMA) for their infectious indie hit 'F.U.N' in the 'Best Rap/Hip-Hop' category. The single has charted on Starfleet Music's Hip-Hop and Indie chart, at #10 and #3 respectively.

CSJQ recently wrapped filming for their second single, the title track from The Life. El Bravador filmworks returns as the clip's director—the digital cinematographers also directed their first video for their HMMA nominated track. The video is expected to premiere on YouTube and the band's official website on December 10.

The band also signed a major deal earlier this year with Veal-Steen Publishing, to license their entire music catalogue for upcoming multi-media projects including film, television, video games, commercials and DVDs. Veal-Steen currently manages an impressive portfolio of over 3,000 copyrights of all genres.

CSJQ has been hot on the promotional circuit in support of their debut EP, being featured on theSOP.org, The Trades, Revive All Music, Grown and Sexy Jams, Big Blend Radio, KJAG 95.5 FM in Salinas, Kansas and most recently in the Richmond Voice.

For music and the latest news, visit www.csjqmusic.com.

MASTODON are currently blazing a path across the North American continent in support of their wildly acclaimed new album THE HUNTER, which features the hit single, "Curl of the Burl." Check out the official video here, and watch the band performing the song live on BBC's Later with Jools Holland here.

At last, the definitive Masto-merch item that brings THE HUNTER to life is available and ready for Holiday purchase now! The Hunter Mask is 100% hand made, painted and assembled, these custom masks are made from a thick plastic and were made locally in the Los Angeles area by a special effects company. They are limited and hand numbered on the inside. Very comfortable to wear and by no means subtle. Fly your Mastodon pride boldly in the face of THE HUNTER for $39.99 while they last. Just a reminder, THE HUNTER Limited Edition vinyl pressings in both Standard and Deluxe Editions are out and available now!

At present, "Curl Of The Burl" continues it's ascent at radio into the Top 20 and has made it's presence felt:

"The ambitious prog-metal warriors pack their attack into a three-minute plus brute rocker ("Curl of The Burl)." - Rolling Stone / Singles column

"Heavy as ever and flytrap-catchy. In the end, however The Hunter's main weapon is the tune." -- Sound & Vision Magazine

"On 'The Hunter,' Mastodon have gone back to basics at the height of their powers....raging metal with a sterling production....ethereal and crushing. It's official: Mastodon are one of the all-time great hard-rock groups." - Alternative Press

Remaining tour dates are as follows:

Fri        11/25                Toronto, ON                  Kool Haus

Sat       11/26                Buffalo, NY                   Town Ballroom

Sun      11/27                Washington, DC            9:30 Club

Mon      11/28                Norfolk, VA                   The NorVa

Tue       11/29                Asheville, NC                Orange Peel

Thur      12/01                Lake Buena Vista, FL    House of Blues

*Fri        12/02               Atlanta, GA                  Tabernacle

*This will be a special homecoming Atlanta GA show for one-night only dubbed "The Missing Link", which will feature: MASTODON, Black Lips, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Red Fang, Tiger! Tiger! and MonstrO - Do Not Miss this show!!

Numbered limited-edition 7-inch "riffing" figures with rocking heads

Arriving this month are the next figures in the GUITAR GODS series...

Brother Wayne Kramer, founder of Detroit's radical rock group MC5, and James Williamson, best known for co-writing and playing on "Raw Power" in the protopunk rock band Iggy & The Stooges and his contributions "Kill City" with Iggy Pop, as well as producing "New Values" for Iggy Pop.

Both guitarists were named in Rolling Stone Magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Both figures deliver a signature riff at the push of a button and are displayed in a multi-panel box, stand at 7 inches tall, are made of a lightweight polyresin, and retail for $24.95.

The Wayne Kramer figure is limited to 750 numbered units. Wayne dons his White Panther Party threads, curly hair, and American flag guitar. Brother Wayne's inimitable style was the first to combine rock with free jazz to create the genre's most unique result -- high-energy sci-fi hard rock and roll.

Order and sound clip: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=GRTGODS102

The James Williamson figure is limited to 500 numbered units. James is accurately sculpted right down to his signature threads, hipster hair, and Sunburst Solid Body Guitar. James' guitar style is widely acknowledged to have been an influential guitar style for 100's of  guitarists from the Sex Pistols to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Green Day. James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 2010 along with the other members of the Stooges.

Order and sound clip: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=GRTGODS103

SLASH
ICONIC MUSICIAN RETURNS TO STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND
--WHERE HE WAS RAISED--
FOR
‘MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11’
FIRST-EVER LIVE ALBUM
OUT ON CD & SPECIAL EDITION CD/DVD

SLASH TO APPEAR ON VH1 CLASSIC’s
“THAT METAL SHOW”
AIRING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER, 19 (11:00PM PT/ET-10:00 CT)

CONVERSATION WITH LEGENDARY ROCK GUITARIST UP NOW ON 
REVOLVER MAGAZINE FULL ALBUM STREAM LIVE ON ROLLING STONE.COM

The iconic, Grammy-winning rock guitarist and songwriter SLASH has released his first-ever live solo album MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11. This summer, near the end of his 2010-2011 tour in support of his globally chart topping and critically acclaimed self-titled solo debut, SLASH returned to Stoke on Trent, England, where he was raised to record MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11. The double-disc CD, and a special-edition 2 CD+DVD package (featuring five bonus tracks and an exclusive interview with SLASH) is out now via Eagle Rock Entertainment.

Fans can catch SLASH on VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show” on Saturday, November 19. Tune-in to watch SLASH, host Eddie Trunk with co-hosts Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson discuss the live album, his forthcoming second studio album (due in 2012, date TBA) and various topics on air this Saturday, November 19 at 11:00pm PT/ET 10:00pm CT on VH1 Classic: http://www.vh1classic.com/browse/video/109196/That_Metal_Show/index.jhtml.

For over 20 years, SLASH has perfected the science of the six-string as an integral component of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver and as a hugely successful solo artist. Captured live at Victoria Hall on July, 24 2011 (24/7/11), MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11 is a stunning 21- song concert celebration of a legendary career. Joined by Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge on vocals, SLASH ripped through cuts culled from his Guns N’ Roses days, Velvet Revolver, Slash’s Snakepit, and his solo album, including the single “By The Sword.” His band line-up included bassist Todd Kerns, drummer Brent Fitz and guitarist Bobby Schneck. With favorites like “Back From Cali,” “Slither,” “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” and many more reverberating the crowd-filled rafters, this proved to be one rockin’ homecoming.

Here’s a Q&A with SLASH about the creation of live album and what is on tap next for him from Revolver magazine.

http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=28260

On July 24 of this year, guitar legend Slash played Stoke-on-Trent, England, the day after his birthday. This concert held a special significance for him, because he was born in Hampstead (he was known as Saul Hudson before he was Slash) and he had grown up in the area until he turned 6. It’s fitting then that he played a career-spanning set, covering his work in Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, and his recent Slash CD, which he recorded for posterity’s sake on the just-released double-CD and DVD set Live: Made in Stoke-24/7/11. Dueling with the soaring vocals of Myles Kennedy, who splits his time between working with the guitarist and Alter Bridge, Slash sounds positively electric on the album, wailing on GN’R classics like “Nightrain” and Slash songs like “Back From Cali” alike. Proud of the concert, the axman spoke to Revolver today about it and his live performance of the latter song, which you can see here: http://www.revolvermag.com/news/slash-premieres-back-from-cali-live-video.html.

REVOLVER: What did it mean to you to be playing in Stoke-on-Trent the day after your birthday?

SLASH It was cool. I’ve wanted to play in Stoke since Guns did its first U.K. tour back in 1988. Because it’s such a small place, it was never a choice destination for any of the promoters or agents. So this time around, since it was my own solo thing, I made sure Stoke was on there. It seemed like a fitting location to shoot the DVD. It was close to the end of the tour, so it made sense. It was a great experience doing the gig and it turned out to be, you know mistakes and all, a pretty cool live show.

You lived there until you were six-years-old. Do you have memories?

SLASH: Yeah, ’cause I got to L.A. in 1971. I went to school there and I had great memories from Stoke. It’s a very cozy, close-knit, small town. Very English: shit weather, very green, though, and very personable and everybody knows everybody. And I have my whole British side of my family there, aunts and uncles, and it was very traditional. Moving to L.A. was a fucking shock, you know? [Laughs] So I always had a soft spot, still do, for Stoke and England in general. But it was obviously in the cards for me to move to L.A., ’cause I don’t think I could have managed to get where I’m at, at this point. I just don’t think I would have made the same decisions. Maybe I would have, who knows? I mean Lemmy is from Stoke, so is Robbie Williams.

Did any of your family come out to the Stoke on Trent show?

SLASH: Yeah, my uncle and cousins and aunts and friends of the family and all that. There was an after-show get-together that was a lot of fun.  The show was in Stoke proper, which is the name of the city, but the town that I’m from is actually called Blurton, which is just this sort of small village within the city. And I was gonna go into Blurton that night and go see my old house, but by the time everybody had got done carousing, everybody was too drunk and it was too late to make the trek, plus apparently the bus wouldn’t fit on the street. [Laughs] So we would have had to do some walking, so we took off for, Liverpool after that.

Does your family know you as Slash, or do they still call you Saul?

SLASH: They definitely call me Slash. It’s hard to explain why that is. I think because the person they knew as Saul was this little boy, and they haven’t seen me since then until I became Slash and Slash is sort of, for the most part, sort of bigger than life. They like that aspect. [Laughs] I’m still Saul in the family sense. But they call me Slash because it’s more exciting, I think. They’re just all very, very sweet and very fun-loving people. And when I come into town it means there’s a concert, [laughs], you know there’s something fun to do, you know?

What does “Back From Cali” mean to you?

SLASH: When Myles wrote the lyrics “Back From Cali,” and I’ll be honest I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on lyrics, but because he’s from Spokane, and just because of his personality I can totally see him being eaten up by the debauchery in Los Angeles and begging for someone to fucking retrieve him. [Laughs] That’s basically it. I’m from L.A. and I’ve been here obviously long enough and I’m very used to the extremities of L.A., especially in the sort of music and entertainment circles and so on, and you can get sucked into it. But Myles is really, he’s not really that type of guy. He’s quiet and sort of a little bit withdrawn. Not as a singer. He’s a really nice guy and sort of naïve in his own way, so I can see him getting sucked into the L.A. thing and just going “Oh, God, help me,” you know?

I know that that’s something that you’ve already gotten past in your life already?

SLASH: No, that’s the thing. It’s still very much a part of my life, I’m just not the center of the drug-and-alcohol thing like I used to be. In other words, I was the highest and the drunkest one, and so now I’m not; I’m the sober one. But the shit around me hasn’t changed at all.

Was “Back To Cali” an easy song to write musically? Watch the clip here: http://www.revolvermag.com/news/slash-premieres-back-from-cali-live-video.html.

SLASH: Well, the way I hooked up with Myles in the first place, was I had written and recorded this whole solo record with all different artists, and I had two pieces of music that were, in my mind’s eye, really cool and had tons of potential. But I couldn’t think of the right vocalist to sing them. Myles’ name had been popping up for years, but I’d never met the guy, didn’t even know what he looked like. And then he was called down to work with Led Zeppelin for something, and I thought, ‘This guy must be good.’ [Laughs] So I just took a chance called him up and told him what I was doing and sent him the music for “Starlight.” About a week later, he sent back the demo with his vocal on it, and I was just floored. So I flew him to L.A., and we recorded the song. And when he went back to Spokane, I started mixing the record and I was actually at the mastering stage, and I thought, That other riff I have might be really good for him. So I sent it, and he sent me  the song “Back From Cali.” And it was at that point when he did the final vocals, that I started thinking, I’m out looking for singers to do this tour, and he’s probably the only one good enough to sing the diversity of the show, which is Guns stuff, Snakepit, stuff from the solo record, and Velvet Revolver. He was the only person I could think of that could do that. And I didn’t even know him that long; it was just a hunch. So I asked him if he wanted to do the tour, and off we went. That’s how we got together and “Back From Cali” happened.

SLASH and his band at Stoke On Trent, England.

What did doing this career-spanning tour mean to you?

SLASH: It’s liberating. Since I first started working on that record, it has been extremely liberating compared to what I’ve been doing in the confines of a democracy in a band, you know? So, it’s been sort of cool. ’Cause in a band, the band itself sort of dictates a lot of different things, at least the bands I work with, which is a good thing. Everybody has an opinion and everybody gets heard. So it’s nice to get out of that for a minute and just do whatever it is the fuck I wanna do, you know, and take responsibility for it one way or another.

Now you are working on a new album…

SLASH: Well, we recorded three songs already. We did it before Myles took off [with Alter Bridge], just to sort of have some stuff in the can and be able to let the people that are gonna be distributing the record get some idea of what it sounds like. And those are killer, all right. So, now we’re in preproduction again doing the remaining 14, 15, 16 songs that we have until Myles is back. And it’s a fucking great record. Musically, it covers a lot of ground and it’s got a lot of depth. From a writing and player’s standpoint, it’s been probably my most adventurous record I’ve done to date. In some ways, in other ways it’s just so straight-ahead rock n’ roll, that it’s very simplistic. But it’s very diverse.

You’ve been writing music almost 30 years now. You wrote the Guns N’ Roses song “Rocket Queen” back in 1983. Do you ever get tired of playing it?

SLASH: It was actually written before [in one of Slash’s early bands] Road Crew, which was way before Guns started. Any of the Guns stuff that we do I haven’t played in so fucking long that I don’t get tired of playing it. I don’t remember ever getting sick of playing any of the Guns songs, especially Appetite songs. Even back then. I hate to record something I don’t like, ’cause then that’s when you dread playing it later, [laughs] you know?

Listen to the full live album stream for MADE IN STOKE 24/7/11 now on Rolling Stone.com:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/full-album-stream-slash-made-in-stoke-24-7-11-20111110?link=mostpopular1

Watch

The track listing for both the CD and the Special Edition DVD is:

1) Been There Lately  
2) Night Train  
3) Ghost  
4) Mean Bone  
5) Back From Cali  
6) Rocket Queen 
7) Civil War  
8) Nothing To Say  
9) Starlight  
10) Promise  
11) Doctor Alibi  
12) Speed Parade  
13) Watch This  
14) Beggars & Hangers On  
15) Patience  
16) Godfather Solo  
17) Sweet Child O’ Mine  
18) Slither  
19) By The Sword  
20) Mr Brownstone  
21) Paradise City

Bonus live DVD:

1.) Ghost
2.) Back From Cali
3.) Beggars & Hangers On
4.) Been There Lately
5.) Starlight
*Interview with Slash.

www.slashonline.com

About SLASH:

Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time. He has received countless accolades and awards including a 2007 induction into Hollywood’s RockWalk (located in front of Guitar Center in Hollywood) alongside his idols Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. An original member of iconic rock band Guns N’ Roses, the Grammy-winning Slash helped the band create signature sounds like the guitar riff of #1 hit “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome To The Jungle.”  The band dominated the 1980’s and 90’s music scene selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and ushered in a decade of hard charging rock music. After leaving the band, Slash went on to critical acclaim in his personal project Slash’s Snakepit, and global success with supergroup Velvet Revolver.  He has been widely sought after by the biggest musicians of all time, performing with everyone from Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Ray Charles.  Slash recently landed on the top of the charts with his first true solo album, Slash.  In addition, Slash was just honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce who named him as an official selection for 2011 to receive a star on Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame. In February 2011, he performed at the Super Bowl XLV half time show, seen by more than 106 million people, becoming the most-watched program in U.S. television history (Nielsen Co.). Slash is currently in the studio working on his second solo album due for release in 2012 (date TBA).

About Eagle Rock Entertainment:

Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hamburg, & Paris.

Brown Brings More Than 40 Years Experience To Rap’s No. 1 Independent Label

For Immediate Release: November 18, 2011

Strange Music has signed iconic music industry figure Violet Brown to be its Vice President of Label Development.  In her new role, Brown will focus on a variety of initiatives, including developing new business opportunities for the company, landing endorsements, partnering with key industry organizations, recruiting artists, handling A&R and working on promotions.

“It’s always been dream of mine to someday work with Tech N9ne and with Travis O’Guin,” Brown says of the owners of Strange Music. “I’ve been a long-time fan of Tech N9ne’s and Travis’ work, their business sense. I’ve been a friend to the company, kind of behind the scenes helping them with the retail side of things. Now that the opportunity’s come for me to work with them, it was a no-brainer for me to go to Strange Music.”

The No. 1 independent rap label in the world, Strange Music is home to Tech N9ne, Brotha Lynch Hung, Krizz Kaliko and others. Brown will work closely on the campaigns of these artists on their current and forthcoming projects and will also help guide the rollout of all of the imprint’s future releases.

“Travis wants me to get in there and learn every aspect of the company and see how I can make things better throughout the whole organization,” Brown says.

Prior to joining Strange Music, Brown was the Director of Urban Music for Wherehouse Music, the largest urban music store chain in the country, and continued in that capacity when Wherehouse was purchased by Trans World Entertainment. The California-based executive has also executive produced platinum albums, managed artists, written liner notes and done A&R consulting, among other things.