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I want to record your band… for free… seriously.

If you’re reading this, you might be where I was 10 years ago; busting your ass trying to get your band off the ground while working a part-time job flexible enough to allow you time off for shows and small independent tours. With all of the gear, merch, and transportation expenses involved in being a serious band, there’s not much money left over for serious recordings.

I produce records for a living. Some of the bands I’ve worked with include The Color Morale, In Hearts Wake, Battlecross, Ghost Bath, The Plot In You, King 810, The Browning, For The Fallen Dreams, Legend, Alistair Hennessey, and many others. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of great talent over the years, and while a solid producer can make almost anyone’s album sound good, truly great records are a team effort between passionate, hard working artists, and an equally dedicated and driven producer/engineer.

As someone who’s been on both sides of the process, I remember not only how much effort it takes to make a band successful, but also how much finances can play a roll. The cost of recording with professional producers and engineers can end up being a big chunk of a rising band’s budget. While initial sticker shock can give the impression that studio costs are high, the reality is that you get what you pay for. Working with experienced, talented producers and engineers is an important investment.

This is where record labels normally come in. They spend a lot of time and money searching for the most talented and marketable bands. Like any business, they are looking for big returns on their investment. If a label isn’t ready to bankroll an unsigned, new, or niche band, it can be very difficult for the artists to find the necessary funding for quality recordings. These very recordings can play a part in getting the proper exposure and promotion necessary to grab a label’s attention, so it becomes a chicken-and-egg problem.

Last year, I started a program called “The Random Search for Awesome Talent 2014”, where I asked bands to submit demos of their music, offering a free week of studio time to my pick of the lot… so I guess “random” isn’t exactly a good word for the title, haha. Anyhow, at the time, I was uncertain if I would have the availability or be in a financial spot to host another free week of studio time the following year. Well, here we are, and I’m happy to say that #TalentSearch2015 officially starts tonight.

Before May 31, 2015, complete these steps.

STEP 1. Fill out the form below to provide:
A demo of your music.
– I understand that most of the material submitted will be DIY demos, so don’t worry about recording quality at all. It would be cool to get some video if possible, but that’s not a requirement.

A short description of your band.
– Where do you hope to see your band in 5 years?
– What are you trying to do differently than other bands?
– Who are your influences?

STEP 2. Share this post on social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.

The ultimate goal of this talent search is to grant a free week of recording time to the artist(s) that, in my opinion, offers the most interesting and compelling music. Runners up will be offered greatly discounted studio time (not sure how many runners up I will be offering; it will depend on how many entries I receive). I usually record aggressive music, but I will accept demos from ALL genres – rock, metal, hardcore, country, jazz, rap, instrumental, etc. No genre is off limits.

Unlike a battle of the bands, this is a private talent search, not a popularity contest. I will not post or share any of the material I receive without the artist’s permission. I will listen to every single submission and read every single email received by May 31, 2015 before making my decision.

I’m extremely excited about this talent search, and look forward to hearing from a lot of great up-and-coming bands. I would love nothing more than to have this talent search break out new artists – that’s a win-win for everyone involved 🙂

Thanks in advance to everyone taking the time to participate!

-Josh

PS: Quick shout out to last year’s pick Alistair Hennessey​. These guys ended up being one of my favorite bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. We got along so well that the band came back late last year to record some more tracks and finish up a full length album. It’s absolutely phenomenal. I cannot wait for you guys to hear it. In the meantime, check out their facebook and watch the video for “The Garden”.

When you fall in love with an album, it’s more than just the music. It’s the frame of mind the people were in when they wrote it. It represents the recording and production technology and trends of the time.

Your love for a record is also very much dictated by what was going on in your life when you heard it. Think about your favorite records of all time – chances are, they came out (or you discovered them) in the best of times, or, they helped you get through the worst of times.

Many people wish that artists and bands would stay the same album to album. That’s like asking a 30 year old to think, act, and produce art the same way they did when they were 14. Not only that, but your life is completely different a decade later, so the environment that influences your art is totally different. Artists are always looking to improve and evolve. Ask most bands what their favorite record is, and it’s always the next one – not just for the PR (although it doesn’t hurt), but because people who create are always striving to improve.

Some of the appeal of many bands lies in their youthful sound that doesn’t work after the first couple of albums. Other bands get better with age. Beyond that, there are bands who are forever trying to emulate their own sound on records decades later (usually to the disappointment of all, since it’s rarely genuine).

The word “record” has many meanings:

1. A thing constituting a piece of evidence about the past.
2. The sum of the past achievements or actions of a person or organization; a person or thing’s previous conduct or performance.
3. To convert (sound or a performance) into permanent form for later reproduction.

An album of music embodies all of these, but it also a record of you, the listener and your associated memories.

Who we are as individuals is defined by significant moments, and these moments have a soundtrack – your favorite records.

8-19-2014. Mark today’s date on your calendar, because today the h̶e̶a̶v̶y̶ music game has changed.

Let me take you back to another time in history when music was changed forever: 5-29-1913. On this day, Russian composer Igor Stravinsky showed the world what would become one of the most revolutionary and influential pieces of music in all history, “The Rite of Spring.” How did the audience receive it? They hated it, and a literal riot broke out in the theater. Some say it was a combination of the unorthodox music and ballet, showcasing “primitive society” and sacrificial killing on the grand stage. Either way, Stravinsky left a mark on music that forever changed it.

Fast forward 101 years, and we find ourselves in a similar situation. Like “The Rite of Spring”, the sound of King 810 stretches the musical spectrum, from the melodic to the dissonant. Their debut album, Memoirs of a Murderer, is a body of work that demands an intellectual and emotional investment of its listeners on a level that most will not be accustomed to. This is where both King 810 and Stravinsky initially lost many people.

One of the most defining characteristic of human beings is our ability to recognize patterns, especially with music. Even those of us who have never picked up an instrument can recognize and recall hundreds and thousands of complex musical arrangements, thanks to our incredibly evolved pattern recognition. However, when our brains struggle to detect familiar patterns in music, it can be a very grating experience. It has actually been shown to release excess levels of dopamine in the brain, which induces mental behavior similar to temporary schizophrenia. Understandably, human beings tend to dislike what they don’t understand.

When the audience first heard “Rite of Spring” back in 1913, Stravinsky’s extremely dissonant piece was something people had never heard in music before, and therefore, detested strongly enough to actually riot in the theater. However, more than just their music, the artists who comprise King 810 are individuals defined by their atypical and (to use the music analogy) extremely dissonant environment. The kind of environment that is nearly impossible to understand if you were not raised there.

I’ve been out to the area of Flint, Michigan where King 810 and their family call home. It’s a short 30 minute drive south on I-75 from Bay City, but it is an entire world away. They say hard times build character, which is obvious when you get to know anyone with an 810 tattoo. It’s difficult for most to understand why anyone would be proud of a city that breeds so much violence. Often misunderstood, these people are usually looked down upon for being different than the rest of society. We are all products of our respective environments, and Flint has truly produced some amazing individuals amid a dissonant and greatly troubled backdrop. Open up to these people, and you will be amazed at how wrong your preconceived notions are.

Like the environment, the people, and the music of King 810, they all share unusual complexity, which requires an intellectual and emotional investment from the outside world. It’s a shame, so many people crave the assimilation of art, that they will quickly dismiss King 810 due to a lack of understanding. On the surface, many assume they are just nu metal, or white trash. That type of snap assumption and dismissal is exactly the problem with modern music – everyone is afraid to act, sound, or look differently than what’s popular. Music has become extremely disposable, with “artists” chasing the bandwagon and consumers applauding their lack of effort. Art should be about taking risks, challenging the audience, demanding an investment, and pushing boundaries. If we listened to popular opinion, music wouldn’t have evolved much since 1913.

If you look back at that infamous night, on the 29th of May, 1913, you will draw many comparisons with Stravinsky and King 810. Grand misconception, overt dislike for change, aversion to complexity, ignorance towards violence, etc. However, there is an interesting twist to the Stravinsky tale that seems to predict King 810’s future.

One year later after the riotous concert, Stravinsky was heralded as a musical genius. People had heard about the controversial piece that caused a riot. As the patterns of his music became easier to comprehend by people over time, the genius of the piece became more and more apparent.

In one year, Stravinsky went from musical villain, to musical hero.

As engineer, producer, and mixing engineer on Memoirs of a Murderer, I’ve been exposed to King 810’s music over a long period of time. We did all of the pre-production here as well, so I’ve watched the songs come together and sat with most of them for over a year and a half. I’ve worked with many talented people over the years, but the sheer brilliance of this album only gets better the more you hear it.

If ever there was a record from my discography that I recommend to buy a physical copy of, it is King 810 – Memoirs of a Murderer. Whether or not you find their style of music or message in your tastes, I strongly believe it will be reflected upon in the years to come as a genre-defying work of art.

I’m very excited to announce Alistair Hennessey as the final selection of the 2014 Talent Search!

This Minneapolis, MN band really impressed me with their creative song-writing; mixing progressive hardcore with ambient guitar soundscapes, indie rock, and passionate vocals. I always love listening to bands that try to do things a little differently, going against the grain in spite of what’s popular. This is my chance to contribute and support artists who challenge what we expect from the typical dominant (ie, stagnant) genres.

The band will be here in August to track a few new songs. Very excited to have these talented artists at my studio.

Many many thanks to all of the bands who contributed. Here’s to Talent Search 2015!

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re where I was 10 years ago; busting your ass trying to get your band off the ground while working a part-time job flexible enough to allow you time off for shows and small independent tours. With all of the gear, merch, and transportation expenses involved in being a serious band, there’s not much money left over for serious recordings.

My name is Josh Schroeder and I produce records for a living. Some of the bands I’ve worked with include The Color Morale, In Hearts Wake, Battlecross, For Today, King 810, The Browning, For The Fallen Dreams, Legend, Wolves & Machines, and many others. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of great talent over the years, and while a solid producer can make almost anyone’s album sound good, truly great records are a team effort between passionate, hard working artists, and an equally dedicated and driven producer/engineer.

As someone who’s been on both sides of the process, I remember not only how much effort it takes to make a band successful, but also how much finances can play a roll. The cost of recording with professional producers and engineers can end up being a big chunk of a rising band’s budget. While initial sticker shock can give the impression that studio costs are high, the reality is that you get what you pay for, and working with the most experienced and talented producers and engineers in specialized genres is an important investment.

This is where record labels normally come in. They spend a lot of time and money searching for the most talented and marketable bands. Like any business, they are looking for big returns on their investment. If a label isn’t ready to bankroll an unsigned, new, or niche band, it can be very difficult for the artists to find the necessary funding for quality recordings. These very recordings can play a part in getting the proper exposure and promotion necessary to grab a label’s attention, so it becomes a chicken-and-egg problem.

All of this leads me to the project I’m introducing today – The Random Search for Awesome Talent. Cornball names aside, the point of this search is to find talented bands who have potential, but are perhaps lacking the funds needed to get professional recordings.

Before May 19, 2014, complete these steps.

STEP 1. Fill out the form below* to provide: *(The 2014 search is over, so submissions are no longer being accepted. Thanks for participating!)
A demo of your music.
– I understand that most of the material submitted will be DIY demos, so don’t worry about recording quality at all. It would be cool to get some video if possible, but that’s not a requirement.

A short description of your band.
– Where do you hope to see your band in 5 years?
– What are you trying to do differently than other bands?
– Who are your influences?

STEP 2. Share this post on social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc.

The ultimate goal of this talent search is to grant a free week of recording time to the artist(s) that, in my opinion, offers the most interesting and compelling music. Runners up will be offered greatly discounted studio time (not sure how many runners up I will be offering; it will depend on how many entries I receive). I usually record aggressive music, but I will accept demos from ALL genres – rock, metal, hardcore, country, jazz, rap, instrumental, etc. No genre is off limits.

Unlike a battle of the bands, this is a private talent search, not a popularity contest. I will not post or share any of the material I receive without the artist’s permission. I will listen to every single submission and read every single email received by May 19, 2014 before making my decision.

I’m extremely excited about this talent search, and look forward to hearing from a lot of great up-and-coming bands. I would love nothing more than to have this talent search break out new artists – that’s a win-win for everyone involved 🙂

Thanks in advance to everyone taking the time to participate!

-Josh