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”.