MS.com Featured Artists

February 28, 2009

Here’s another great batch of MIKESHINODA.COM FEATURED ARTISTS I hand-picked over the past few days. As you know, I asked viewers here to post links to their music at http://mikeshinoda.uservoice.com/, and you guys have been taking a look and voting. Keep it up!

Regardless of how the voting goes, here is another batch of new artists that caught my ear…

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The News – Indie rock from Tel Aviv. Really awesome vibe, definitely a band to check out. I like their style. http://www.myspace.com/hadashot

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Canadian Rapper FLEX is doing his thing. He kills classic-sounding hip hop tracks in the vein of DJ Premier, No I.D., and Jay Dee…Plus he has a dope track over our Kutmasta Kurt remix of “In The End.” I’m into it. http://www.myspace.com/pflex905?

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CIRCLE OF CONTEMPT. You may recognize this Finnish metal band, (formerly named Thrust Moment) from drummer JP Kaukonen’s posts here on mikeshinoda.com. We had an awesome public conversation here and on linkinpark.com a few months ago, and the band has signed a worldwide deal with Sumerian Records. Check out their new site and music here: http://www.myspace.com/circleofcontempt

I’ll keep checking out the links, so keep posting and keep putting up you bands’ info.
mike

mike

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MFR / STREET FIGHTER AUCTION

February 26, 2009

GO CHECK THIS VIDEO AND AUCTION OUT NOW! CUSTOM DESIGNED STREET FIGHTER ARCADE GAME CABINETS UP FOR BIDS – PROCEEDS BENEFIT MUSIC FOR RELIEF:

<www.eBay.com/musicforrelief>

Music for Relief is auctioning off STREET FIGHTER arcade game cabinets custom designed by artists MEAR ONE (http://www.mearone.com/), Otto Murga of SOTA TOYS (http://www.sotatoysonline.com/), Lemar and Dauley (http://www.lemaranddauley.com/), Scott Spatola and Mike McWhertor of Meat Bun (http://meatbun.us/blog/), and Jim Mahfood aka Food One of I AM 8-BIT (http://www.40ozcomics.com/). Each cabinet comes with a copy of Street Fighter IV for Xbox 360 or PS3 and a limited edition Chun-li figurine (only 700 were made). AUCTION ENDS MARCH 6TH.

All proceeds from this auction benefit Music for Relief and the organization’s aid to victims of the wildfires in Victoria Australia.

Again, the auction and video are now live at <www.eBay.com/musicforrelief>

mike

http://www.musicforrelief.org

mike

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Promote Yourself, Part 3

February 24, 2009

It wasn’t that long ago that I was in an unsigned band doing shows at bars.

Getting back “on-topic,” I want to keep encouraging you guys to check out the great music on http://mikeshinoda.uservoice.com/. A ton of votes have already been cast, so I’m excited to see that you guys are getting involved. I’m planning to regularly feature new artists here on mikeshinoda.com, so keep posting new music, and keep voting.

If you make music and you haven’t put your stuff up yet, get it together, and post it there (at the link above). I will continue to look at that page to see what’s new, and see how the voting is going. Make sure to tell your friends–link to mikeshinoda.com from your websites and encourage people to check it out and vote.

If you don’t have a band, keep listening and voting. These artists benefit from your feedback, and by getting involved, you’re helping them build a fanbase…besides, you’ll definitely get turned on to some incredible new music.

Shouts out to SELA, CHRIS CONNOR, and PANIK MUSIC for being the first “Featured Artists” here at mikeshinoda.com.

mike

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I'm on a boat.

February 23, 2009

I couldn’t post today, because I’m…

mike

and for extra credit, Kirsten Wiig is a genius:

mike

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Promote Yourself, Part 2!!!

February 22, 2009

I know a lot of you have been anxiously awaiting the follow-up to the “Promote Yourself post.” I want to begin by saying how impressed I was by the incredible amount of quality and variety of the stuff submitted. Truly incredible. Since almost all of the submissions were independent or unsigned, it further solidifies my belief that you guys are capable of making amazing music that sounds just as good as anything put out on a major label.

Many different genres and countries (including Australia, Chile, France, Russia, Canada, Romania, Estonia, Poland, Germany, and others) were represented. I asked the non-music-makers out there to please hold off on making comments (which some of you did, ha)…now, I’m opening it up to everyone to speak their mind. My team helped me put all of your posts up on the following site, where EVERYONE CAN NOW VOTE ON THEIR FAVORITES. There’s no prize except knowing how you’re doing, so there is no point cheating the votes. Just place a vote for the bands you like best, and let them know they’re doing something right. Go here:

http://mikeshinoda.uservoice.com/

ALSO, If you didn’t post about your music the first time, but you still want to, I’ll continue to look, so post at the link above You have to sign in if you want to vote or post, but I think it’s worth it.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of the bands I liked. I’m not picking these based on votes or recommendations. These were simply some things that caught my ear. Let’s begin.

mike

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SELA – Great hip hop, and variety from track to track…check out “Pump Yo Fist” and “Out There.”
http://www.myspace.com/selahiphop

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Chris Connor – beautiful soundscapes and guitar textures. I’d love to hear some songs with vocals, but at the very least, this music sounds great so far.
http://www.myspace.com/chrisconmusic

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Panik Music – Killer rap-rock from Germany: Check out “Was Wuerdest Du Tun.” I don’t know what they’re saying, but the overall vibe is pretty solid.
http://www.myspace.com/panikmusik

mike

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From a friend–In Kazakhstan

February 21, 2009

I got this from a friend today, and thought it was funny:

Dear All,

Hello from Almaty, Kazakhstan. Yes, I am in the land of Borat, and no not all the women here are prostitutes! Today, as I go out and explore the city, I am on a diplomatic mission. Can I find a “legal” version of Hybrid Theory, Meteora, or MTM at a music store in this cold, former soviet republic? Do they even have music stores, or do you have to visit the Kazakh equivalent of the Kremlin to get a special “license?” Can I stream a LP video on the Kazakh version of YouTube? Is there even a Kazakh version of YouTube? This is a country with no McDonalds, and no Coke, so I am not sure if I will be successful. They do however have horse meat sausage, and fermented maires milk. Hope we don’t get mugged!

Still looking at your music links…keep putting them up…

mike

mike

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Fan Responses: Hard Times vs. Music Sales, Quality

February 19, 2009

Posted by Lynnie: How is the credit crunch/current economic downfall going to affect the music industry?
I’m curious because, of course, the prices of many things are dropping while prices of other things are soaring, and everyone is suffering. How will you, as a band, and us, as fans, be affected by this? It is something that is affecting so many people so it’s bound to be an issue, sooner or later. Some bands are already producing lower quality work to compensate. How do you think this will affect Linkin Park and the quality of future productions?

M: Although I don’t have a crystal ball, I think it’s safe to say that the current economic situation will not affect the quality of Linkin Park music in the near future. Although we enjoy going to a recording studio to make use of a more centralized, professional environment to make our albums, I believe we are 100% capable and equipped to make “Linkin Park quality” studio albums at home. We choose to record at a studio because it gives us a focused, scheduled environment to “get serious” in. After all, if we were all making an album at my house every day, we might end up hanging out more than recording :) We would still get the job done, but it would take (even) longer to finish! The bottom line is that our album content and quality are of paramount importance to us, and I can’t see us sacrificing them for anything.

As for the sales of albums or concert tickets, that’s a different story. I have to go back to what I’ve said before, that every dollar you spend on a band (whether it be on their music, concert tickets, or merchandise) is a statement; it says that you want the artist to continue to do what they do. In buying something, you are essentially helping fund the artist’s future endeavors. Do you love Marlboro more than your favorite band? Do you love Louis Vuitton or Starbucks more? Some may, but I’ll say this: if you steal music from a band that you love, but you spend money on something from a company that you don’t care a lot about, I would very politely suggest that you might have some re-prioritizing to do.

mike

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"New Brow" Documentary

February 18, 2009

I’m enjoying all the great music you guys are putting links to on the last post… I’ll be taking a few days to look through and listen to stuff before we open it up for more thoughts and discussion.

In the meantime, check out this trailer for a new documentary entitled “New Brow.” This film does not have a release schedule yet, but looks awesome.

New Brow Trailer 1 from New Brow on Vimeo.

mike

mike

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Promote Yourself

February 17, 2009

This post is to help you promote your band. IF YOU ARE A MUSICIAN (in a band / singer / rapper / producer, etc.), post about yourself here. In the comments on this page, write a short description about yourself and your music, and include a link to your home page or wherever your music and bio are.

HERE ARE THE RULES:

1 – Don’t embed stuff in the comments, or the page will get annoying. Links only. It would be ideal if the page or pages you link to have music. But the fewer links the better–one link to your main home page is best.

2 – Don’t post unless you are the artist. I do not want to see: “Hey, I like your band,” “My friend’s band is cool,” etc.

Again, this post is for artists only. So…if you don’t make music, don’t post a comment. Instead, your job here is to listen to it: go through the posts and see which ones you like best, and wait until my next blog post to comment–the next blog post will be for all of you who don’t make music.

Enjoy,
mike

mike

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Skydiving Crew

February 16, 2009

Thanks to AJPen for the link…
mike

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