Sub-Pop – Skin Back Alley

Watch videos for three songs from Low’s new album, Double Negative

13/06/2018 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Photo: Shelly Mosman

Low have announced that their new album, Double Negative, will be released via Sub Pop on the 14th of September.

They’ve released a ‘video triptych’ for new tracks “Quorum”, “Dancing And Blood” and “Fly” that you can watch below.

Double Negative was produced by BJ Burton at Justin Vernon’s April Base studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Low will play two shows in the UK next week before returning in October.

Jun 19th: Leeds, United Kingdom – Brudenell Social
Jun 20th: London, United Kingdom – Queen Elizabeth Hall (Robert Smith’s Meltdown Festival)
Oct 15th: Bristol, UK – Trinity
Oct 16th: Manchester, UK – Manchester Cathedral
Oct 17th: Dublin, IE – Vicar Street

So Pitted share humorous new video for ‘Feed Me’

12/03/2016 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Grungy Seattle sci-fi punks So Pitted have shared a new video for their track “Feed Me.”

The song is lifted from neo, the band’s recently released Sub Pop debut album. The humorous visual, directed by Eleanor Petry, is loosely inspired by Jane Child’s late 80s pop classic video, “Don’t Wanna Fall In Love.”

The clip sees drummer and vocalist Liam Downey starring as a tour guide, of sorts. Careering past the neons and skyscrapers of Seattle by night, the uneasy clip is a not-so-subtle nod to city’s rapid, irreversible growth.

You can watch the video below.

neo is currently available worldwide on CD, LP and DL via Sub Pop.

The album was co-produced and mixed by So Pitted and Dylan Wall, recorded at The Old Fire House, Media Lab, Spruce Haus, the band’s practice space, and Tastefully Loud in Seattle. neo was engineered by Wall at Tastefully Loud and mastered by Eric Boulanger at The Bakery in Los Angeles.

Over 700 independent record labels sign new fair deal declaration

18/07/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Photo (C) Ross Gilmore/Redferns via Getty Images

A group of more than 700 independent record labels have signed a new agreement calling for the fair treatment of their artists.

The Fair Digital Deals Declaration has been organised by the Worldwide Independent Network. It follows controversy over YouTube pressuring independent labels to sign what some considered unfair deals relating to their new music streaming service.

According to the Worldwide Independent Network the declaration “seeks to guarantee fair compensation, clarity and transparency for independent labels. It also puts an emphasis on allowing artists to profit from services like streaming, rather than just the label or publishing rights holders.”

The agreement comprises five major points:

1. Ensure that artists’ share of download and streaming revenues is clearly explained in recording agreements and royalty statements in reasonable summary form.

2. Account to artists a good-faith pro-rata share of any revenues and other compensation from digital services that stem from the monetization of recordings but are not attributed to specific recordings or performances.

3. Encourage better standards of information from digital services on the usage and monetization of music.

4. Support artists who choose to oppose, including publicly, unauthorized uses of their music.

5. Support the collective position of the global independent record company sector.

Among the labels to sign the Fair Digital Deals Declaration are Epitaph, Beggars Group, Rough Trade, Sub Pop, Ninja Tune, Mute, Brainfeeder, 4AD, Domino, Houndsooth and Warp.

Martin Mills, group chairman of the Beggars Group, who look after bands including Queens of the Stone Age, said: Why wouldn’t we treat artists fairly? It seems so obvious that we shouldn’t have to say it, but let’s say it loud and proud.”

Rich Bengloff, president of the American Association of Independent Music said: “This is a call for artists receiving the same fair treatment that we as independent music labels feel we should be receiving as well.”

Sub Pop launches Drip.fm subscription service

18/06/2014 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Sub Pop is the latest independent record label to join the ranks of those offering subscription services via the Drip.fm platform. The Sub Pop service launched worldwide today.

Subscribers will pay a monthly fee to receive digital copies of each new Sub Pop release via e-mail on the day it comes out. Users will also be able to chose from a selection of the Sub Pop back catalogue, with files available in either 320kbps compressed or WAV formats. All files will be free from DRM restrictions.

The first 100 subscribers will be entered to win a prize pack containing, Beach House’s Bloom LP (Loser Edition), a signed copy of the Deluxe edition of the Postal Service’s Give Up LP, the Record Store Day exclusive pressing of Mudhoney On Top, and more.

Artists from Sub Pop’s back catalogue that feature on the service include Nirvana, Fleet Foxes and Earth to name just three.

Find out more about how to subscribe and the prize pack promotion via Sub Pop’s website.

Nirvana contract appears online

22/08/2013 by skinbackalley, posted in News

Nirvana’s original contract with Seattle label Sub-Pop has appeared online.

Detailing an advance of just $600 (£380) the contract declares that the agreement will start on 1st January 1989 and names original band members Kurt Cobain, Jason Everman, Chad Channing and Krist Novoselic (incorrectly spelt as ‘Chris’.)

The contract is for three album length master tapes and offers slightly more generous terms of $12,000 (£7,650) for the first option year, and $24,000 (£15,300) for the second option year. Nirvana only actually recorded one album under the contract, debut LP Bleach. In 1990 the band were snapped up by major label DGC/Geffen. Their first album for the new label, Nevermind, sold over 30 million copies.

Meanwhile a remastered version of ‘In Utero’ is being released to mark its 20th anniversary on September 23. It will feature 70 tracks, including previously unreleased recordings and demos, B-sides and compilation tracks and live material featuring the band’s final touring line-up of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear.

You can view the copy of the Sub-Pop contract here.