Pledge Music: A New Path For Musicians?

The concept of Pledge Music  was born in 2009 and in recent years has proved to be an efficient and popular way for musicians to put out an album that is entirely reliant on their fanbase. Pledge Music changes the rules of the game as instead of going down the traditional route of having record companies or the bands themselves place an investment into the production of albums, fans are invited to donate towards the cost and then get sent the album upon completion. 

Pledge Music is an often successful way of artists showing faith in their fanbase and vice versa as they are equally reliant upon one another. I decided that the best band to grill on the subject would be Turrentine Jones not only because their debut album 'Our Days' is being put together via Pledge Music, but 5% of the end result reached will be donated to Mustard Tree, a worthwhile charity that helps to rebuild the lives of the homeless in Manchester. 

1] What made you decide to go down the route of pledge music?

We’ve been building towards something like this for a while but never felt confident we have the fan base to do it. We thought it was a good time now after coming off a successful UK tour this year and playing for BBC at Glastonbury. We also thought it was a good way to connect with our fans.

2] Is it harder work than going down the conventional route of making an album?

I don’t think it’s any different - You still have to work your arse off! The benefit is that you don’t have to produce the ££ upfront which takes off a little of the financial pressure. The process is just the same though – e.g. Bringing in the right people to record it, mix it, master it. You need a team of people to be there from start to end to produce a great album which is what we’re definitely aiming for

3] How would this project benefit your fanbase?

We did it to connect with our fans by offering some pretty great exclusive items like signed vinyl, shirts, drum sticks, even their name in the liner notes of the CD etc. Things fans wouldn’t necessarily get their hands on. And on top of all of that they can say they’ve been a part of the whole project.


4] Would you recommend this route for bands who are starting out?

Hmmmm. It depends what your ultimate goal/target is and how much you’re asking for. You do rely on your fans, I mean, unless you have a large and generous family that can Pledge for you, eventually you rely on your fans to top it off. But it’s one of the best ways to connect with your fans. No label. No politics. No bullshit . It’s you and your fans working towards a common goal. That’s it

5] What can fans expect from 'Our Days' ?

Sex, coffee and rock n roll. Julian’s black book of sultry tales. That’s the feel, that’s the sound. Something you’ll want to play on repeat until you fall asleep. We’ve come a long way and gone through a lot as a band in such short time but we’ve always stuck to our roots. We always will. We like blues, rock n roll and that’s what we’re going to put down. We can’t wait until the album drops!

If you like the sound of 'Our Days' you can make your contribution here and grab yourself some goodies!

Mutineers: A Live Review

As I walked towards the Islington last Friday night I was shaking despite the unseasonably warm weather. This was the first time I had been placed on a guestlist so I could review and than interview the headline act. I don't belong to any publication and I am fairly new to all of this. I was stupid to be so nervous though as everyone I met was the polar opposite of the indie hipster stereotype that I was so scared I would have to deal with.

The Mutineers were originally scheduled to play at the London Rattlesnake but due to complications, they had to be shifted to the The Islington. This than meant that the support acts also underwent a shift and artists that were not scheduled for the event warmed up the crowd. I entered the tiny side room where a handful of people lined the walls watching the first act. Unfortunately I was too late to catch her name but the crowd had fallen into a hushed trance with the beauty of this Cornish songstress' voice. Sat behind a keyboard was a petite blonde solo artist singing soft, melancholic ballads in minor key. As talented as she was however, I couldn't help but think that she had an air of snobbery about her due to the song she closed on. 'America' was a tale of how she wanted to leave her small Cornish town for the open spaces of the United States. Fair enough. However the lyrics suggested that she felt she was too good for the people of her hometown, with a lot of emphasis on teenage pregnancies and at one stage even suggested that the working class were happy with their lot, with her being the only one who wanted more. I don't deny how effortlessly she hit her notes and how beautifully she played the keyboard, but that final song did irk me! The next artist was extremely successful in entertaining the crowd. Nothing gets everyone singing and dancing more than a man with a ginger beard doing folk songs about whiskey (think Johnny Cash becoming a member of The Dubliners). Moment of mass confusion soon arose however when he dropped his guitar pick, let go off his guitar and the music continued! Wasn't this meant to be live music? Although I will give him the benefit of the doubt given that he was given his slot last minute.

The intimate venue was soon buzzing with a friendly, vibrant atmosphere which was a perfect fitting for when the Mutineers arrived on stage. Charles on bass, looked sharp as ever in a turtleneck jumper and jacket combo with Mallins looking effortless in a casual black shirt. Although each track on their debut album 'Friends, Lovers, Rivals' contains hooking riffs and catchy lyrics which means you're still singing along hours later, hearing it all in an energetic live performance deemed it even more infectious which I didn't think could be possible. What makes the Mutineers unique as a band is that although their songs are moody, the bass lines are always funky and the beat always danceable. Each member was in their own element within their respective talents, Mickey engrossed on his guitar riffs gave a kick of rock n roll attitude to each song whereas Mallins', so pure within his vocals, effortlessly conveyed the emotion. If I had to name one element of the performance which did much to impress me was the subtle vocal harmonizing as it demonstrated to me that this band were perfectionists in everything they do.

What makes the Mutineers special as a band is that they contain all the melodic moodiness which is typical of Manc bands but each member is so particular in their given roles that their talents combined results in songs that showcase the fact you don't need record companies to be a success.

After the show, I sat down with the lads for a quick Q&A. Unfortunately technology and me never seem to get along and as result my camcorder refused to work. I'm still working out how to upload the footage onto here but as soon as I can I will do so.

My Music Week in Pictures

The past week has been an accumulation of many music based discoveries that combined have resulted in  angering, educating and even sitting in a chair for an hour and a half staring at an Edgar Allan Poe doll.*


Monday 

For my 21st, a close friend got me 'Punk Rock: An Oral History' by John Robb and this week I haven't put it down. This is a brilliant resource for any cultural historian as it includes quotes and interview snippets from the greatest punk rockers in history. The likes of Mick Jones, Siouxsie Sioux, Glen Matlock plus many more lend their anecdotes and opinions to help us gain a deeper understanding of the rise and fall of punk.









Thursday 

 As much as I love the music that I already have on my iPod, at times it can get a little stale. Therefore I strolled into my local record store (Banquet Records) and asked them to recommend me an album that was full of punk energy. This is what was offered (you won't get that sort of service in HMV!). Although this was the first time I had heard anything by The Wonder Years, it was love at first listen. My favourite track on this album was 'The Devil in My Bloodstream' featuring Laura Stevenson. The song starts off as a beautiful, woeful tale of the ugliness of the industrialization of America which wiped away nature. This is accompanied by a mellow piano line and a harmonizing duet with Stevenson which places the listener at ease. However the song lulls the listener into a false sense of security as without warning, the melody is stripped away as the guitar riffs take over and the vocals become aggressive. What's not to love about a song that takes you by surprise?

Saturday 

For those who know me, they will understand that I was born a feminist and will die a feminist. Therefore when I came across this rather feminine, pastel-coloured album entitled 'Cooking Songs' ("for £15? Fuck that" exclaimed my cousin) in HMV my heart sank. Many may argue that it is aimed at all genders who like cooking, but with songs such as Rihanna's 'Only Girl In The World' Abba's 'Dancing Queen' with the clincher being 'It's Raining Men' I honestly beg to differ. I am currently debating whether to write a letter of complaint to the record company.

The highlight of my week was getting my 3rd tattoo. There is a rather long winded inspiration behind it, which you can read for yourself in my previous post. The design was an alteration of a still taken from Pink Floyd's 'The Trial'. In the original the wall was angled away from the camera with Pink slumped in the distance so to adapt it for my own body, I adjusted the angle of the wall and brought Pink forward to sit next to the graffiti. it looks red, dark and swollen at the moment but once it heals the lining of the wall will be faint, making the graffiti and Pink the dominant aspect of the tattoo. Thank you to the lovely Elisha Collins at Wicked Ink in Sutton for her great work!







*The Edgar Allan Poe doll was property of Elisha as part of her Living Dead Dolls collection. He was stood in his coffin with his wife, I want one!