Hey, been wondering about when some of these groups will release their music in the USA, specifically Shihad and Weta - it seems like a lot of the more alternative bands work out some kind of distribution deal (Garageland-good luck guys!, Bike, I know there's others, & older more established NZ names seem to have releases available here - the Chills, etc.) BUT, and that's a very big BUT, what about the more hard rock bands, which you'd think might have a good chance of making a commercial splash here in the US? I think Shihad used to be carried by Noise in Europe, and you'd think that now that they're on Warner's they'd be released over here. Is this about major label politics - the US side of Warner's ain't interested in distributing & promoting, or...something else? I mean, Silverchair was brought over here 4 or 5 years ago...and I would think any A&R guy would recognize the possible appeal of Shihad as at least comparable...What's the dilly-o?
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Well said. To get recordings from bands ...
Well said. To get recordings from bands like Shihad, HDU, HLAH, and Chris Knox etc are close to impossible over here in Scotland.
Little old NZ does just fine in the music department, and with the current demand for 'alternative' sounds, surely these propective labels will make an effort.
Other than that, now that we can burn cd's ourselves, the lables are losing money as us ex-pats distribute recordings around the world to the locals!
Watch out for some of the compilations ...
Watch out for some of the compilations coming out soon over there check out some of the bands on the CD you'll be suprised how many NZ bands make it on.
I live in NYC (I'm a kiwi) and my ...
I live in NYC (I'm a kiwi) and my husband is from the US. We have said for years that NZ music would kick some ass if it was promoted/released over here. What's going on?
It's weird...Here is an example that I ...
It's weird...Here is an example that I have been thinking about lately... Shihad mentioned that there were very concerned about who would be managing them if and when they do come over here, which makes sense, of course, not to mention that they already took a big step in moving to Aus not too long ago...but I wonder if there's something else at play, namely feeling intimidation at coming over to "the big bad US", and actually giving it a go, and feeling entitled to be on the same stage with the (mediocre) talents of the likes of Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Korn and all the others who are kings of the world right now. Well, I think it's time to let that kind of thinking go, fellas.
Your Kiwi humility does you a disservice - sure, you could spend your careers making brilliant rock albums that make you big fish in a small (er) pond, make some dough, enjoy your regional fame, and never really take that risk and never achieve what could possibly be...or you could go for the big prize, and take your act to the US, put yourselves out there, and if you succeed you'd still end up being major rock stars in your home country -
Garageland are lately one of the only bands to really attempt to "get over" over here, and even their attempts seem modest...I dunno ...it's weird. For awhile I thought it was the labels, but now I think it's on the musicians themselves...anybody else have any thoughts?
...then again, maybe my egotistical ...
...then again, maybe my egotistical myopic American vision assumes they (Shihad) want to come over here at all ...maybe I'm just talking out of my ass - don't know.
Hmmm, perhaps it is just rock-pigs who ...
Hmmm, perhaps it is just rock-pigs who get all weak-kneed at the prospect of the big-bad USA. On the other hand, electronic artists, on a per capita basis, seem to be making the international transition quite well. Check, e.g., Denver McCarthy whose latest album came out on NY based label Statra. Also the Involve records crew who have been making waves in the US, and have collaborations and releases going on over there. Mark de Clive Lowe's Six Degree's crew is appearing on the mainstage/firstnight of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, after only one year already the second biggest music festival in the world. Cyanide is an example of NZ talent breaking out in a big way in the UK DnB scene, which has got to be one of the most intimidating musical cliques around. It makes me think that the anonymous nature of these sorts of music makes it a bit easier to break into international acclaim. With no worries about trying to compete against filty-rich image-centred rock/pop video gods, these artists have been able to let their music speak for itself. Sadly, I think the world of popular mainstream music is simply too shallow to let talent alone lead New Zealanders to world-wide attention, that is unless these kiwi's look good and have a fatty major label contract to pay for those damn expensive videos.