dogbotpublishing » pop

Theo Bard

hagop — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:02:17 +0000

Theo Bard feels that his best way to communicate with the world is through music. Inspired by the stories found in traditional folk, he sets razor-sharp lyrics to a stripped-down acoustic guitar, allowing his words to speak for themselves. His musical journey started at the age of just 4, when Theo began learning violin. He is thankful for such early experiences. “Learning violin makes you humble,” he says. “There are just a handful of people in the world who have truly mastered the instrument. You learn to work hard, and always demand better from yourself. It’s all about discipline.” Perhaps this explains his prolific songwriting record, and dedication to his adopted instrument, the guitar. His time spent learning violin might also have contributed to his ear for a catchy tune.

“For me, songwriting is more about poetry than music.” He says. “Sometimes, I get an idea for a song which is just a concept. It might be a love song or a political one but the key is to make sure it’s really strong. I always think simple is best, because I want to be understood. At other times, it might be a few of the lyrics that determine what the song is about.”

In 2008, Theo saw reggae star Natty in a crowd at Secret Garden Party. “I immediately ran to get my guitar and approached him. I’d been onto his music for about a year and loved his bittersweet sound and lyrics. He’s got a great voice as well.” After a quick introduction, Theo asked if he could play Natty a song. “He was really open to it, which surprised me, so I played him “Listen”, then and there, and he immediately asked me to play another one. I couldn’t believe it when he asked me to play at his album launch, after I’d met him 10 minutes before!” Since then Theo has played Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Vortex Tour East, The Roundhouse and The Union Chapel.

He is equally at home in the world of folk. Well versed in the British tradition, Theo has performed with rising Scottish folk star John Langan, London’s Cut A Shine and regularly at The Magpie’s Nest folk club, who put him on the bill at Camden’s Roundhouse. “I’ve been learning folk songs since I was six,” explains Bard, “and have always loved the way the lines naturally lodge in your head, making the words easy to remember. It’s content. Content is the key” he gushes. “All I want to do is communicate. If you listen to a song of mine and at the end you’ve learnt about how I see the world, or how I feel about something, then I’m a happy man. I might even make you feel something similar too.”

Theo is the lead singer and songwriter in Brothers Bab, an 8-piece he started two years ago, pulling together ska, calypso, gypsy and reggae styles. It’s a fruity blend that few can resist. Regulars on the festival circuit, Brothers Bab marked the start of 2009 with their first release, “Freshly Squeezed.”

“I just wanted to put a smile on people’s faces” he says, “and maybe make them sweat a little. When I play solo, I communicate through my lyrics, but with dance music it’s totally different. The only way to put the music across is with your body. You have to fling yourself around. You’re like a singer, actor, dancer and MC rolled into one.”

As for the future, Bard is dedicated to developing on all fronts. “I’ve got so many songs now, enough for at least a couple of albums, and I can’t wait to get them all recorded.” It looks like he might not have to wait too long.

Theo is signed to brand new label Tape Records, and will release a second EP and debut album with them in 2009.

“Gratifying truth serum for your ears” – The Blue Light District

“reggae-infused pop philosopher” – East

“three-dimensional poetry”

Without You
Download audio file (without_you.mp3)

Middle Class Boy
Download audio file (middle_class_boy.mp3)

Everything You Have
Download audio file (everything_you_have.mp3)

Listen
Download audio file (listen.mp3)

All the Orders Gone
Download audio file (all_orders_gone.mp3)

www.myspace.com/theobard
www.taperec.com

F.Lunaire

aaron — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:43:32 +0000

After the successful release of “The Mondestrunken E.P.” through Stiff Records back in February, F.Lunaire has been a busy boy, relentlessly playing at packed out shows and firmly making an imprint on the London scene, he has at the same time, been writing and working on his first album, “Chopin Waltz”.

Produced by Aaron Horn (son of Trevor Horn), the album is currently being recorded at Sarm studios, where he and F.Lunaire are moonlighting in the wee hours, whenever studios are empty. Themed on Pierot Lunaire (a character in an opera drawn from a series of French poems), the album builds on the darkly creative spirit and ballad-esque work of the recently released E.P.

F.Lunaire settled in London where he was first weaned into the limelight whilst playing keys with Kid Harpoon. This elusive character is swiftly gaining recognition for his own music. Having played his first public gig with WowoW at The Tate Britain, working with DA gallery, Pat & Trevor, and possessing the ability to seek out a squat party like a squalid-art seeking missile, he has no risk of losing his arty edge. His music however, inspires the feet to move and heart to race of a much broader crowd.

Quantum Physics

Download audio file (quantum.mp3)

Tarantella

Download audio file (tarantella.mp3)

Aaron Audio

hagop — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:55:53 +0000

Aaron Audio is a London-based record producer, prorammer, DJ, and CEO of dogbotpublishing music production company.

“I like music, not genres.”

He DJs as Aaron Audio on the east London gig circuit, mixing live with electro, cheese and dubstep – always accessible but still dirty. He has also clocked more than 50 live gigs as one half of multi-tempo dance outfit Honey Weasel, jamming and mixing live with two laptops, an arsenal of samples and a hoard of mad costumes. The pair, more live performers than studio recorders, have also DJed on the British festival circuit, including Glade festival, the Antic Banquet, and this summer hosted the main stage at the Secret Garden Party.

He is also co-producer of the “A.Theory” ambient music project with Alex Preager, crafting a diverse scope of progressive acoustic electronica .

Whether DJing, producing, or creating original tunes, he works with a broad sound pallet drawn from a lifetime of production experience. Over two decades he has developed a unique personal relationship with production processes and production spaces.

“My dad left me alone in the studio when I was four and I managed to ruin all the drum machine programming they had done that day,” he says. “I was always around recording studios, after school and on family holidays, so it didn’t seem like anything special. But then when I was older I realsied the potential of the equipment and studio’s which was unlimted , .”

Hey Trumps (featuring Sam Ritchie)
Download audio file (hey_trumps.mp3)

Bodown
Download audio file (bodown.mp3)

Live Writing Session
Download audio file (live_writing.mp3)

The Door
Download audio file (the_door.mp3)

Disco Rockers

hagop — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:53:26 +0000

Norway/London based Discorockers are a modern three piece that fuses electro, dub, dance and punk rock in an innovative and incredibly exciting way.

Since playing Glastonbury festival 2004 it’s been a rollercoaster ride where they have rocked the London club, gig and party circuit for the past year and have headlined Cargo twice.The band members each bring with them their own unique talents from different musical backgrounds:

Viktoria Winge’s inspiring vocal performance is both angelic and at the same time edgy, and she has often been referred to as ‘a blonde björk’. A true bombshell indeed, she is from a famous Theatrical family and has studied at the Khio Kunsthøgskolen theatre school in Oslo. Victoria is one of those one in a million performers you just can’t look away from! (Hence her many international modeling assignments)

The bands Producer, Anton Jawdokimov, on keyboard and beat mixing duties, uses the latest gadgets and gizmos to get his sound and gets his musical background and experience from the UK rave scene, having worked with the likes of Ninjatune and The Future Sound of London to name a few.

These ingredients create a magic and thrilling combination of sounds and visual energy that has to be seen and enjoyed.