music connection hot 100

MUSIC CONNECTION
HOT 100 Live Unsigned Artists and Bands
Compiled by Bernard Baur, Mark Nardone, Liza Cano
HERE IT IS, our annual Hot 100 list of unsigned performers who delivered something
special onstage this year. Contributing nominations to 2014’s list were MC staffers as well
as freelance writers, club bookers, A&R reps, music attorneys and other industry pros
nationwide. To enquire about a review for your band in 2015, check out
http://musicconnection.com/reviews/get-reviewed.
Alexis Keegan
Pop
Los Angeles, CA
http://alexiskeegan.com
Aloha Radio
Indie Rock
Orange County, CA
http://aloharadioband.com
Amanda Lamb
Country
Orange County, CA
http://amandalambmusic.com
Andrew Scotchie
& the River Rats
Blues/Rock
Asheville, NC
http://ashevilleriverrats.com
Anthony Starble
Singer/Songwriter/Pop
Los Angeles, CA
http://anthonystarble.com
The Antics
Post-Punk
Skillman, NJ
http://wearetheantics.com
Aradia
Electronic/Pop
Seattle, WA
http://aradiamusic.com
Basic Shapes
Electro-Pop
Brooklyn, NY
http://basicshapesband.com
Bear Hands
Indie Pop
Brooklyn, NY
http://bearhandsband.com
Beth Donnelly
& Doug Feller
Opera/Classical/Crossover
Tualatin, OR
http://jeremiahproductions.com
Bhavana Reddy
Indie Rock/World (India)
Los Angeles, CA
http://bhavanareddy.com
36 December 2014
musicconnection.com
Big Monsta
Blues/Rock/R&B
Huntington Beach, CA
http://fb.com/bigmonstaband
Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket
Funk
Lynn, MA
http://bigoldirtybucket.com
The Black Moods
Classic/Alternative Rock
Tempe, AZ
http://theblackmoods.com
Blue Tofu
Electronica/Pop/Indie
Maumee, OH
http://bluetofu.com
Brian Whelan
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://brianwhelanmusic.com
Cartographer
Rock/Alternative
Los Angeles, CA
http://cartographermusic.com
Casey Wickstrom
Blues/Rock/Slide Guitar
Los Angeles, CA
http://caseywickstrom.com
Characula
Indie Rock/Horror
Hollywood, CA
http://characula.com
Cheryl Barnes
Jazz/Pop
Los Angeles, CA
http://cherylbarnes.com
Chris Rivers
Hip-Hop
Bronx, NY
http://chrisriversmusic.com
Cloud
Pop Rock
Temecula, CA
http://cloudisaband.com
Cody DiGerolamo
Indie Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://codydigerolamo.com
Craymer
Electro-Pop
Seattle, WA
http://craymermusic.com
Dankrupt
Reggae Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.dankruptmusic.com
David Choi
Singer/Songwriter
Los Angeles, CA
http://davidchoimusic.com
Demrick
Hip-Hop/Rap
Los Angeles, CA
http://iamdemrick.com
Dessy Di Lauro
Neo-Ragtime
Santa Monica, CA
http://dessydilauro.com
D.O.G.S.
Grunge/Alternative
Tokyo, Japan
http://reverbnation.com/dogs
Dragondeer
Psych/Blues
Denver, CO
http://dragondeer.com
Eliza Neals
and the Narcotics!
Blues Rock
Ferndale, MI
http://elizaneals.com
Ellen Bukstel
Acoustic/Power Folk/Singer/
Songwriter
Southwest Ranches, FL
http://ellenbukstel.com/site
Eric Slater
Alternative Rock/Singer/
Songwriter
Los Angeles, CA
http://ericslater.com
Funktapuss
Funk
Hyannis, MA
http://fb.com/funktapussband
G-Eazy
Hip-Hop
Oakland, CA
http://g-eazy.com
Galvanized Souls
Alternative
Ventura, CA
http://galvanizedsouls.com
Grandhorse
Indie Pop
Portland, OR
http://grandhorsepdx.com
Honey Locust
Chamber Folk
Nashville, TN
http://honeylocustmusic.com
Honor By August
Rock
Washington, DC
http://honorbyaugust.com
Hoodie Allen
Hip-Hop
Old Bethpage, NY
http://hoodieallen.com
Hornbuckle
Blues/Rock/Soul
Denver, CO
http://hornbucklemusic.com
Humble Tripe
Orchestral Folk
Durham, NC
http://humbletripe.com
Huxlee
Alternative Folk
Los Angeles, CA
http://huxleemusic.com
Insect Surfers
Instrumental Soundtracks, Surf
Los Angeles, CA
http://insectsurfers.com
Jackstand
Rock
Livonia, MI
http://jackstandband.com
Jimmy Z and the Ztribe
Blues
Gardena, CA
http://ztribe.com
Joanna Beasley
Christian/Indie/Pop
Niles, MI
http://joannabeasley.com
Joseph Eid
Americana/Folk-Pop
Los Angeles, CA
http://josepheidmusic.com
Mana Hardcore
Singer/Songwriter
Tokyo, Japan
http://manahardcore.com
Mark Mackay
Country
Hollywood, CA
http://www.markmackayofficial.com
Max and the Moon
The Record Company
Rock/Roots/Blues
Los Angeles, CA
http://therecordcompany.net
Riddle The Sphinx
Alternative
Los Angeles, CA
http://riddlethesphinx.com
Rio & The Rockabilly
Revival
Alternative
Chino Hills, CA
http://maxandthemoon.com
Roots/Rock n’ Soul/R&B
Detroit, MI
http://rioandtherockabillyrevival.com
Soul/R&B/Funk
Sherman, TX
https://fb.com/pages/
JTronius-Qwazar/
153775031300788
The Moderates
Sandman Negus
Kate Callahan
Pop/Soul
Los Angeles, CA
http://mollyrothmusic.com
JTronius Qwazar
Singer/Songwriter
Hartford, CT
http://kate-callahan.com
Kings of Carnage
Commercial Heavy Metal
Los Angeles, CA
http://kingsofcarnage.com
Kingston & Vice
Garage Rock
Long Beach, CA
http://kingstonandvice.com
KIVEN
Hard Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://kivenmusic.com
Kylie Hughes
Singer/Songwriter
Malibu, CA
http://kyliehughesmusic.com
Kylie Odetta
Indie Pop/Singer/Songwriter
Greensville, SC
http://kylieodetta.com
The Last Born Sons
Modern/Classic Rock/Country
Toledo, OH
http://lastbornsons.com
Lecrae
Christian Hip-Hop
Atlanta, GA
http://lecrae.com
Louie Bello
Pop/R&B
Hyde Park, MA
http://louiebello.com
Mae Edwards
Spiritual Pop
Los Angeles, CA
http://maeedwards.com
Alt. Rock
Long Beach, CA
http://themoderatesband.com
Hip-Hop
Los Angeles, CA
http://sandmannegus.com
Molly Roth
Sex Helicopter
Mora Mora
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://moramoratheband.com
Moxy and the Influence
Rock
Orange County, CA
http://moxyandtheinfluence.com
Mrs. Skannotto
Alternative Ska/Rock
Rochester, NY
http://mrsska.com
Nalani & Sarina
Pop/Rock/Soul
Central New Jersey
http://nalanisarina.com
Obsidian Silence
Hard Rock Prog Band
Pasadena, CA
http://obsidiansilence.com
Ostrich Run
Alternative
Anaheim, CA
http://OstrichRun.com
The Phil Celia Band
Americana/Roots
Newbury Park, CA
http://philceliamusic.com
Polaris Rose
Alternative Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://polarisrose.com
Project Steiger
Shredding Metal
Los Angeles, CA
http://steigermusic.com
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://soundcloud.com/
sexhelicopter
Shadows Entwined
Metal
Los Angeles, CA
http://reverbnation.com/
shadowsentwined
Sierra West
Folk Rock
San Diego, CA
http://sierrarocks.com
Small Leaks Sink Ships
Indie/Progressive/Rock
Tempe, AZ
http://smallleaks.com
Smoke Season
Electronic/Folk Americana
Los Angeles, CA
http://smokeseason.com
Stacy Burk
Country Pop
Van Alstyne, TX
http://stacyburkmusic.com
Stars in Stereo
Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://starsinstereo.com
STASH
Pop/Dance
Los Angeles, CA
http://danceSTASH.com
Sylvia Juncosa
Female Guitar Shred
Los Angeles, CA
http://sylviajuncosa.com
TAN
Pop
Los Angeles, CA
http://tanofficial.com
Tarra Layne
Pop/Southern Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://tarralayne.com
Taylor Locke
Rock & Roll
Los Angeles, CA
http://tlatr.com/?p=1588
Ten Ton Mojo
Rock/Blues
New York, NY
http://tentonmojo.com/index
Tin Scribble
Progressive Rock
Wyandotte, MI
http://tinscribble.com
The Tins
Indie/Pop/Rock
Buffalo, NY
http://thetinsmusic.com
Trapdoor Social
Indie/Alternative
Los Angeles, CA
http://trapdoorsocial.com
V2
Rock
Santa Rosa, CA
http://VSquared.rocks
Viktoria Tocca
Adult Contemporary/AAA
Stockholm, Sweden
http://viktoriatocca.com
Vinyl Soul
Latin Soul/Hip-Hop/R&B
Hollywood, CA
http://vinylsoulmusic.com
weareTheBigBang
Alternative Soul
Los Angeles, CA
http://thebigbangmusic.com
Whiskey of the Damned
Celtic Rock
New York, NY
fb.com/whiskeyofthedamned
White Light Messenger
Alternative/Pop Rock
Los Angeles, CA
http://whitelightmessenger.com
Zip-Tie Handcuffs
Punk Rock
Boston, MA
http://ziptiehandcuffs.bandcamp.com
December 2014
musicconnection.com 37
ing for the right project––if you can manage to
do it—is great, but it depends where you are in
life. I didn’t move to L.A. until my 30s. If you’re
fresh out of scoring school, I would say work
on your body of work. Take what you have to
take to continue to write music. - John Swihart,
composer (Napoleon Dynamite, How I Met Your
Mother) Nov.
SUBMITTING MUSIC FOR
MUSIC SUPERVISORS/FILM/TV
If you are sending your music to a production
company that is creating a new TV pilot, first
listen to the songs that this company has chosen
before and see what the songs have in common.
Is the BPM always the same? Do the songs have
a specific sound? Do they have a quick shoutout chorus? Is the hook melody sustained or
legato? Is there a pre-chorus or bridge? The right
arrangement, lyrics, hook, beat and BPM are key
to getting your song licensed. It is also helpful to
get familiar with the show you are pitching and
its characters. - Susan Hyatt, singer/songwriter,
artist coach, author June
[When submitting to a library] there’s something
to be said for doing your homework and knowing
the players. The blind emails I respond to are the
ones where people have done their homework.
They’ve looked at our artists. They’ve referenced
a recent sync. I know that’s not much, but that
person went that extra step. Take the extra step
that the person next to you is not willing to do. If
you do that, it always shows. - Justin Shukat,
President, Primary Wave Music
Publishing Jan.
If a company believes in you
and sends you a pitch for a
show, read the pitch requirements carefully and follow the
instructions. Do not take any
liberties. If they want a song
that sounds like Katy Perry or
Daft Punk, make sure your song
sounds that way. Some artists
may think of this as selling out,
but instead think of it as “selling
in.” Since the beginning of time,
composers have been commissioned by courts and kings to
create music. If you can create
great commissioned music,
then you are a true musician.
Always remember you are in
the “business of music” not just
working in the music business.
- Susan Hyatt singer/songwriter, artist coach, author June
Sometimes it’s the label;
sometimes it’s the publishing
company Kobalt [Music Group
who get us synchs]. Occasionally our management gets
us placements, but probably
not as much as the label or
publisher does.
In the industry, everyone
knows everyone so you probably don’t have to be in publishing to get a placement. You may
S U SA N
have friends in the advertising
industry that want to work with
you. - Gus Unger-Hamilton of alt-J Nov.
H YAT T
We’re trying to get as many people into our music
as we can. Sometimes if someone’s going to put
your song on a commercial, but no one’s going
to hear it anyway, but they’ll throw me several
thousand dollars, why not. I don’t think we’re that
prideful. I’ve heard the Black Keys talk about
saying no to a lot of things early on; now they’re
looking back and saying that was dumb. - Clint
Culberson of Modoc Feb.
MUSIC BUSINESS
J U ST I N S H U K AT
Some people get into music because of the lifestyle. But you’ve got to work. We practiced eight
hours a day and played five nights a week on the
strip in Vegas to support ourselves in the beginning. We had no money. And we learned, like, 60
Beth
Donnelly
Crossover/Pop-Opera
Artists
CROSSOVER/
POP-OPERA ARTISTS
& Doug Feller
Husband & wife duo
collaborate in concerts
throughout Europe and
North America.
FREE song
from their New Album
My Heart is ForYou
Il mio cuor’ è per te
Download it at
www.bethdonnellydouglasfeller.com
48 December 2014
musicconnection.com
Mu
Connecsic
tion
Hot 10
Artist 0
cover gigs as well as writing our own songs and
did that for years and played to empty bars.
- Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons Jan.
Until you’re a big enough star that you don’t
need press, say yes [to opportunities]. I’m
always surprised when bands are not thankful.
They’re like “Oh, this is stupid. This is not why
I joined a band.” Well, if you only want to play
music, stay in your basement. It’ll stay pure.
You won’t have to do anything you don’t want to
do, other than working a normal job. You could
listen to a terrible manager at Starbucks scream
at you or you could talk about yourself to
somebody. My advice would just be to roll with it
and have a good time. - J Roddy Walston of J
Roddy Walston and the Business July
You may have already signed up with a PRO.
But here’s what you may not know. ASCAP, BMI