On June 30th 2007, Daniel Blue found himself alone in an empty loft/warehouse situation. All tore up about the harsh reality of the isolation of the modern man, he picked up a used guitar and "just made it happen, I needed a way to connect to the outside world." This is odd, because this particular warehouse was often the hub of the vibrant, if not struggling young Tacoma arts scene.

He sings to the walls, a crisis building in him…these nights alone swirl around him and he unloads his unusual lungs at the ghosts in his heart, at the demons he feels “I am a madman”, he confesses to the spirits of the air…in agreement or perhaps an acceptance as rebellion. “If i have to be mad to free myself from your grasp, then I am a madman.” Its the job of the song to tell the truth, as simply and beautifully as possible.

“Madman is the hardest song I have ever heard.” - Mike Smithy (music/fashion photographer)

The ease of his broken guitar and gaped strings demanded obsessive attention, and more songs came, some flowing out in one piece as if waiting in the wings for the droning e’s and d’s to draw them from their long incubation. Daniel began to appear in between acts that graced the stage he had set up in his "big space" a scenester hand-me-down 400 person capasity underground venue/loft in the heart of Downtown Tacoma.

“…that guitar isn’t even in tune!” - Joshua Vega (guitarist/vocals, Paris Spleen)

Local philanthropic musicians pulled Blue into the studio and crash coursed him through microphone etiquette and song structure.

“He writes perfect pop gems, disguised as abstract art pieces.” - Joshua Cain (singer/songwriter, Joshua Cain Band)

Armed with a slightly over-produced demo and a newly rehabilitated guitarist, Blue began calling his project Motopony, after his primary mode of transportation, a 1984 Honda trail 110, and appearing on stages all over Tacoma and Seattle conjuring his Cherokee and Druid ancestors into what journalists called:

“The love child of Joplin and Cohen” (Paul Schrag), and “…Oppressive, and Impressive as hell.” - (Mark Thomas Deming)

50 some odd shows and minus one guitarist later, Blue once again hoisted his newly rigged three string guitar and began to “…get serious about an album here.” In April 2009, a swirl of songs descended on Blue, forcing him to write five in nearly one week. Among these were “June”, “27” and “Wake Up”, all seeming like potent messages to himself about what he saw occurring in his life. Warnings, prophecies and hopes rolling off of stark intuition. At the same time Blue was re-introduced to Buddy Ross at a songwriters dinner hosted by a mutual friend in Tacoma. “I had to have Ross’ beats under my songs…I bugged him with emails until he would give me a listen.” Ross found potent lyrics and melodies over a skeletal chord structure, built in hooks and the thing he had been looking for: room to compose.

The duo quickly joined by some high school friends after a string of failed add attempts in the local alternative newsweekly. Thomas Williams click kicking on a 76 visqueen vintage drum kit and Brantley Cady ripping through electric blues scales as if possessed by some ancestral R&B demon.

“Tacoma’s Best New Band” - Matt Driscoll (music editor, Weekly Volcano)

“One of the best debut records of 2009 - anywhere.” - Mark Thomas Demming (Journalist)

“The best Debut I have heard in Ten years” - Ingrid Walker (Dean of Pop Culture Studies University of Washington)

“Like a breath of fresh air, I took a lungful when I first stumbled upon Motopony’s “King of Diamonds”…holds its own as testament to the indie folk prowess of Daniel Blue.” - Brian (Music Blogger @ http://wakingupto.wordpress.com/

"Motopony’s Daniel Blue is a subversive character in Tacoma’s tight-knit music scene...Motopony’s music flows effortlessly between the genres of soul, funk, rock, and folk" - KEXP blog Song of the Day: Motopony - Seer By Leigh Bezezekoff | Published: January 29, 2010

"Keep making music, I'll keep playing it." - John Richards KEXP

"When Daniel Blue – one of Tacoma, WA’s most prolific…

Bookings // Management // Labels

UpNorth is a full in-house agency which focuses on three main goals: Management, Bookings and Label Management. Founded by Canadian artists CastNowski & Justin Blanc, the agency focus is toward a simple way for the artists signed under it’s banner to navigate the harsh music industry with ease by putting the ressources towards the music itself.

Our management services gives our artists a solide direction for social media management, artist development and musical insights. We help to push our artists and help them to collaborate with other people all around the globe by giving them connections, artist liaisons and surrounding them in a creative environment.

Our booking services extend to the North American territory however, we are partnering with agencies all around the globe to send people all over the world. We also bring international artists on Canadian and US soil to help them develop in this hard to reach market.
Our label UpNorth Music is branded toward the House Music genre. We release and promote a wide variety of songs, from Techno to Bass House. We have a solide PR team working behind us on all major platforms to ensure the best distribution possible of our released music.

Finally, UpNorth is a family of artists helping out one another, bringing to this industry a whole new vision, one of cooperation. Through partnerships, relationships will develop and through those relationships, our brand will develop and grow to give our artists the best environment and visibility to show to the world their musical talent and creativity.

Get The Spoils of War on Bandcamp or stream it on your favorite platform.
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From Portland, Oregon, Val Bauer writes songs of earnest confessionalism. They're about the struggle, but also the optimism that it's possible to not have to accept what's given us; that we're all fighting the same fight, and that we're not alone.

Through his previous EPs, Val addressed the world as an alternative singer-songwriter. His first full-length, The Spoils of War, sees him branching out to take on pop-punk influences—from favorites like Saves the Day to newer acts like Real Friends and Neck Deep—while still remaining true to those songwriter roots.

Ninja Gaijin (Melbourne, Australia) originally began playing guitar in Indie Rock, Improvised Noise & Metal bands in 1997, and was a student of Melbourne's Rock n Roll High School. After falling in love with Jungle in 1995, he later discovered and became equally enraptured with Terrorcore, Speedcore & Breakcore music. For a couple of years he produced as Quantum Nanotech Extinction before settling on his current moniker - a namesake of the video game Ninja Gaiden. His music primarily focuses on expressing deep emotions with juxtapositon of light and dark elements.

He also organises events under the name Subterfuge Seminars (primarily the Terrorcore, Breakcore & Hardcore Techno club event Axed, which he co-runs alongside Dutch ex-pat DJ Jor Terror). Ninja has additionally done some rapping (as Tannu Gaijin), a bit of Tuvan & Mongolian style throat-singing, and in the late `90s created and maintained official band websites for acts such as Sea Scouts and Ninetynine under the banner 'The Grey Sea'. He also has dabbled in zine writing, music journalism, music photography and hosting the occasional community radio show.

I like synths, good hooks, and catchy melodies. I am currently working on adding vocals to tracks now. That is a work in progress. For now most of what you will hear is instrumental. I can tell you though the lack of my singing with my voice is covered by the singing of the synths. Trust me you will like it, and if not then listening to my music couldn't be the worst possible use of your time (I hope lol). I tend to listen to a lot of Synthpop, Futurepop, Aggrotech, and Harsh EBM. So you will probably see some influences from those genres. I hope you enjoy :)

Outlawed Misfit313 is a recording artist, producer and composer hailing from Detroit. After experiencing a rough upbringing, he began recording music at just 12 years old with two Sony Walkman players a analog mixing board and a old karaoke microphone as a therapeutic way to escape his harsh reality. Eventually, he created his stage name Outlawed Misfit313, a nickname that was given to him in the streets of Detroit and coincidentally fit his lyrical and spiritual infusion of different genres and his unique wordplay.
Today, Outlawed Misfit313's music is ranging from rap and hip-hop to EDM and dubstep. 
“I love to do what’s never been done or thought to be possible,” he said of his music. 
Outlawed Misfit313 continues to use inspiration from his own life to fuel his music, and he cites his main musical influences as the rare artists who changed the music industry with just their creativity and a pen, including 2Pac (Tupac Shakur) & The Outlawz, Michael Jackson, George Clinton, Dr. Dre, DMX, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Big L, Slick Rick and Eazy E. 
Outlawed Misfit313’s music is incomparable to other music out there, as he has lived a life typically only seen in movies. The amount of dedication he puts into each and every lyric of his songs truly sets him apart from the rest. He has worked on beats from Dr. Dre himself, Dame Grease, The Detroit Pioneer D.J Los, Niamson, Castro_BigDog to name the least and has played residencies in countless clubs across the U.S. 
In 2008, he was signed to the Hyped International Records family and was named CEO shortly after. In 2008-2009 he got his first major record deal with the legendary Westbound Records that released his first album "I Want In".The following year he received a nomination for Outstanding Hip-Hop MC at the Detroit Music Awards, and received two additional nominations in the same category in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 he was signed to 2Pac's Outlawz faction "New Outlaw Order". On January 1st 2015 he signed to Vacant Lot Records and created a sub-label "itsLOM" (www.itsLOM.com) he is still curently under Vacant Lot records.
In addition to music, he’s helped build children’s centers in his area to help children in need. 
In the future, Outlawed Misfit313 hopes to open more children’s centers around the country and expand his career by doing more interviews, shows and tours around the globe.

MADE HISTORY WHEN HE AND HIS GROUP PARTNER WAS FEATURED IN THE SOURCE MAGAZINE UNSIGNED HYPE .. THE FIRST DETROIT DUO OR GROUP.. TO DO SO...subcribe to our vevo 
Official Site: http://reverbnation.com/cardierandcaznova
@KENLOWE100

KENLOWE A.K.A Cardier, one of the truest and most dedicated emcee'S in the rap game, is often compared to Nas, however, make no mistake he's in a class of his own.KENLOWE WAS FEATURED IN THE SOURCE MAGAZINE UNSIGNED HYPE.WIT HIS HOME BOY .CAZNOVA .AS...(CARDIER AND CAZNOVA).... Raised up in a single parent home, and one (1) of seven (7) children, KENLOWE, experienced the ghetto life first hand. Fueled by his harsh environment, KENLOWE started writing ,rhymes at only nine. One of his biggest inspirations was rap legend NAS AND AZ TUPAC AND B.IG ,Determined to make his mark in the rap game, in his early teens, KENLOWE hung out with Detroit`s local underground rappers to gather as much knowledge as possible. He started performing at sixteen as a hype man for Hush (Geffen Recording Artists). A year later, he was opening shows for WuTang`s members, Cappa Donna & Suns of Man;PLIES,GORILLA ZOE ,YUNG JEZZY,CTE, B2K, Master P, Memphis Bleek, Cash Money,PATTI LABELLE VH1 artist Amp Fiddla, JUS TO NAME A FEW. Once KENLOWE hits the stage, his presence IS felt and he keeps the crowd hype with mad energy. KENLOWE WROTE THE THEME SONG FOR AND ENERGY DRINK COMPANY.. IN 2009 ...KENLOWE IS NOW PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON HIS debut album/EP   KENLOWE100@YAHOO.COM http://youtube.com/kenlowevevo  WELCOME.. TO MY WORLD OFF GOOD MUSIC.. SIT BACK AND ENJOY.. KENLOWE AKA CARDIER OF (CARDIER &CAZNOVA)

A small dwelling above an antique store on a main road near Bondi Beach is not the ideal studio space. Add to that a main bus line and a few microphones and youʼve got yourself a very unlikely recording sanctuary. Yet, this is where Guineafowl chose to record his first ideas. With merely his laptop, its in-built microphone and a soda water at his side, the beginning ideas of his debut EP “Hello Anxiety” began to take shape.
“The recording process was a little frustrating. I would often have to stop what I was doing every ten minutes to let a bus pass. The antique store below would also be moving heavy furniture each day that added to the loud outside sound. I chose to do it there though as I had ideas bursting out of me and I wanted to get them down by any means possible,” the songwriter explains.

Take a quick look at Guineafowlʼs creative family and itʼs no surprise he is bursting with inspiration. His mother, stepfather and brothers are all visual artists, living successfully off their paintings and artworks. His sister is a film producer, and his father an ambitious fashion designer that owns his own boutique. Although this artist does not follow the line of visual art, he does take on the philosophy that his family has taught him.
“My family, particularly my brother showed me that art is about capturing stories.
Although Iʼm not a painter, thatʼs how Iʼve always seen my songwriting – another way to translate a story.”

Debut EP “Hello Anxiety” is just that, a translation of Guineafowlʼs life stories; a scrapbook collection of of fuck-ups, frustrations and elation. From the stomping ʻBotanistʼ to the harsh ʻMy Lonely Armsʼ to the grateful ʻLittle Fingersʼ, this talented lyricist is translating his take on the world, assessing circumstance and critiquing every move.

Guineafowlʼs peers have always been supportive of his creativity. Once his trusty laptop and in-built mic had recorded the loops and melodies that he was satisfied with he showed it to a friend who urged him to put it online. From there his fanbase grew, and after a playing a few solo shows, he realised these tracks could not make the impact he wanted them to if it was only him on stage.

He again called upon those friends, as well as a few other stragglers to help him with his live show. “In choosing my band there was only one rule: they had to be better players than me. As a result Iʼm surrounded by some genius players, that makes the on-stage work feel playful and easy.”

Next came the more serious work of getting their hands dirty in the studio. Soon they transferred to BJB studios, laying down what the motley crew had formed together. The band worked hard over a short 48 hours, tracking two songs and mixing four. “We took it all very seriously, making sure we got things right and got things done quickly,” he grins.

The result was “Hello Anxiety”, an EP which Guineafowl sees as a melding of his sounds from the small room above the antique store with the melodies of the in-studio time with his band. ʻBotanistʼ still contains his original vocal takes from the humble beginnings with his in-built microphone, whilst ʻMy Lonely Armsʼ delivers to you Guineafowl as a band through a large mixing desk. Each track brings its own colour to the palette, and although itʼs not in his familyʼs tradition of visual art, he has succeeded in putting together a canvas of stories in “Hello Anxiety”.


HIRNTRUST GRIND MEDIA
Independent 1-man record label for hard experimental noise, breaks, grind & core.
Currently operating from Linz/Austria/EU.
Brutal diseased noise, brain synapses on fire, harsh chainsaw jungle/dub soundwrecks, violent cut-up broken beat/grind/rave and overdriven death polka collapse. Every kind of horrible noise and distorted/tortured/spastic muzik is possible!

HIRNPLATZT ZINE
Limited run magazine published by Hirntrust dedicated to 
underground art, alternative comics, drawings, illustrations, 
collages, scrapbook scum & other visual vomit.


Want some of my vinyls or zines? 
Please go to www.hirntrust.at 
and write me.

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