recursion loop Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 I'm thinking about releasing 7 or 8 my tracks together as an album (mostly psytrance and some breaks), but I have no idea how to do this. First, does bandcamp make any sense? I want to release my music for free but I don't want to deal with any promotion myself besides posting announcements here and maybe on some other psy-related forums (i'm not registered anywhere of these besides Psynews, also I'm hanging out a lot at KVR audio, but people there are more interested in synths than in music). How about the exposure on bandcamp? Do I have any chances that people who like psytrance will stumble upon my album and download it? Are there any alternative platforms perhaps, now, when Ectoplazm is dead? Second question is that I've released some of the tracks at small labels, but I would like to 're-release them, with slightly different mix and better mastering. Do I have to settle this with the labels or am I the only one who has the copyrights? I think some of these remade tracks could be qualified as remixes, as I've changed some synths and stuff, some others I want to re-release with original arrangement, just mastered by a professional. And if anything, can anyone help me with the mastering and cover art at reasonable prices? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the goa constrictor Posted May 28, 2016 Share Posted May 28, 2016 The rumors of Ektoplazms demise seem greatly exaggerated. That said, bandcamp is great and the best option for all independent music. Toss is up there as a Pay What You Want and then post some links wherever you wish. Either that or send 2 or 3 of your best tracks to various labels that you think might be the best fit, see if they'll pick you up 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recursion loop Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 Yeah, Ektoplazm is not dead, but they no more accept submissions from random guys like me. Will try bandcamp. Pay what you want equals to free download? As for working with the labels, I did that already, it has its pros and cons, but now I want to try to control the whole process by myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Yes, you have to check with labels where you released first. You have to know at which terms you gave music there. Second, bandcamp / ektoplazm / facebook / torrent... No pain no gain, if you would not want to fuss yourself with selfpromotion and rely only on stumbling, forget it. Our S&C project even with somewhat promotion didn´t get any heat for years now. As for the labels, you can´t rely only on label´s work either, you have to give your own input so potential fans see that you in fact care about what you do. And interaction with those last mentioned - it´s worth gold, and it´s a process that takes time. In any case, if you have music, don´t leave it lying down, release it. We stuck with tons and tons of unreleased material which could may be a hit back in the 2000s... Don´t make same mistake. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recursion loop Posted May 29, 2016 Author Share Posted May 29, 2016 Yeah, should check out the agreements I've signed. Some of them were something like "music submission form" where I gave permission to the labels to distribute my tracks but these agreements didn't explicitly forbid me to distribute them by other means, some others were more strict. Thing is that some of the tracks I've released were poorly mixed/mastered (mostly my fault) - now I have better sounding versions of these tracks but it somehow hurts me that I'm the only one who have ever heard these better versions. But if I call these new versions "remixes" probably the agreements I've signed should not cover them - I don't remember any of these contracts explicitly forbid me to remix the tracks. How do people do promotion? I don't have an active facebook account, and generally I don't like the idea of spamming my music to random people, but well, seems that this is what I'll have to do anyway in order to get more than 5 listens per year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted May 29, 2016 Share Posted May 29, 2016 Well, i don´t like FB either but it´s really powerfull platform. 90% of promotion for LD is done on FB and Ektoplazm. Other 10% is soundcloud, bandcamp, mixcloud, youtube, and domestic narration and parties What you can do is to scan´n´swoop through those submissions and search details and see wheter you can make altered versions of same tracks - at last, those tracks are your property if you didn´t gave them fully to labels (I mean, gave them as property, not the exclusive rights to release / distribute) So basically you can make 2016 edit versions, or Re-Mastered etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopie Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 recursion loop, I remember hearing one of your tunes and it was excellent. Go ahead and use bandcamp, I think it's the easiest solution available at the moment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recursion loop Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 Thanks, Oopie! I'm really glad that you remember and like my stuff Well, I read all my agreements, it seems that I unlikely will be able to do what I want without breaking them at the moment (the ironic part is that all my released music has been already pirated and spread on the net, but I'm used to respect copyrights, agreements I've signed and all that) Well, will concentrate on writing new tracks instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Thanks, Oopie! I'm really glad that you remember and like my stuff Well, I read all my agreements, it seems that I unlikely will be able to do what I want without breaking them at the moment (the ironic part is that all my released music has been already pirated and spread on the net, but I'm used to respect copyrights, agreements I've signed and all that) Well, will concentrate on writing new tracks instead Or you can try to review the contract with the other side and get to agreement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richpa Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 What kind of music are you making anyway? Do you have any link where we can check your stuff?Regarding the distribution, if you want to reach many people, first make sure to have good visuals, proper mastering (I suggest Deimos Soundlabs, he is afforable and he will do the work), and of course make sure to have it on Ektoplazm. Even it's CC licence it gives you a lot more in return. You're a owner of your work and you don't need any special permissions from label in case you're planning to re-work certain tracks, however if they're protected by 'all rights reserved' you will need permission to publish it. Bandcamp is great option too, but the exposure is uncomparable with Ektoplazm.Good luck! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recursion loop Posted May 30, 2016 Author Share Posted May 30, 2016 What kind of music are you making anyway? Do you have any link where we can check your stuff? Psytrance, mostly progressive https://soundcloud.com/recursion-loop/uncanny-valley-rmx and full-on as well as some uncategorized kind of psy and some non-psychedelic breakbeat Thnaks for the mastering reference, will keep it in mind. What about ectoplazm? They state that they won't accept submissions from random guys in foreseeable future, only from labels and established artists. I'd love to get my stuff upoladed there but not sure how do I do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopie Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 What about ectoplazm? They state that they won't accept submissions from random guys in foreseeable future, only from labels and established artists. I'd love to get my stuff upoladed there but not sure how do I do this. I had my first album on Ekto, but wouldn't get an answer when trying to submit my 2nd one in. I think Basilisk is quite a busy guy, has made some money loss running Ektoplazm too I remember reading, so I guess he's releasing a few releases only here and there. Maybe start with bandcamp and see how things evolve from there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Make sure to try with Ektoplazm. Nothing to lose except some time. And what Richpa said, yes - make sure you pay attention to visuals, mastering and ofc if you go via Ektoplazm, that you obey all the rules there, @Oopie maybe you didn´t go with all the rules so your release got exculded? I know Basilisk is pretty hard on "standard", because enormous amount of job he´s doing there. Anyway I would suggest Ekto as first stop, because of exposure, you can always make Bandcamp parallel with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Psytrance, mostly progressive https://soundcloud.com/recursion-loop/uncanny-valley-rmx and full-on as well as some uncategorized kind of psy and some non-psychedelic breakbeat some nice goaish bordering psy. I like it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recursion loop Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Thanks, Lunar Dawn Yeah, blending psytrance sounds with goaish melodies is what I currently enjoy the most. As for Ektoplazm, I've checked their info again, it states as follows: "Update for spring 2016: due to high levels of demand for access and low cash reserves Ektoplazm is presently accepting only a limited number of applications from previously established labels and artists. The release application process will be closed to the general public for the foreseeable future and will open only when Ektoplazm becomes profitable. If you already have a long-running relationship with Ektoplazm you are welcome to contact us to ask for the link to the new form if you haven’t already received it". So it seems that the only way to get my music uploaded there is to get it released on a lablel which has long-standing cooperation with Ektoplazm. Well, as for the original question, I've dropped the idea of re-releasing my old stuff, to much legal questions and all that, I'll better use the experience I've got in the process to make my new tracks good from the very beginning and think about the distribution when I have smth new to distribute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oopie Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 @Oopie maybe you didn´t go with all the rules so your release got exculded? I know Basilisk is pretty hard on "standard", because enormous amount of job he´s doing there.Hi LD, yeah as recursion loop stated, you need to contact him via email to get a submit form to begin with...! I did that but had no response at all, so even if Ekto would be my 1st choice as well, I decided bandcamp is perhaps the most wise decision for the moment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 ...I decided bandcamp is perhaps the most wise decision for the moment. Yea, I´m sorry to say but, yes - there is still even some downtime on Ekto, problems are still not fully solved obvioussly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Ektoplazm isn't dead. It's hibernating Sorry to have to close the doors to new applications but the situation won't last forever. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, use Bandcamp in the meantime, and feel free to submit your release when things open up again; I don't discriminate against previously released music! I should also mention that I don't mean to ignore anyone, I'm just really burnt out (and broke) and have hundreds of email inquiries and release applications backed up in my inbox. Thanks for your patience 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Just when one thinks he dissapeared... Kool, great to have first hand info! Btw, any idea about kickstarter or similar campaign for Ekto, Basilisk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recursion loop Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Ektoplazm isn't dead. It's hibernating Sorry to have to close the doors to new applications but the situation won't last forever. Keep an eye on the blog for updates, use Bandcamp in the meantime, and feel free to submit your release when things open up again; I don't discriminate against previously released music! I should also mention that I don't mean to ignore anyone, I'm just really burnt out (and broke) and have hundreds of email inquiries and release applications backed up in my inbox. Thanks for your patience Thanks for the info! And also for all those years you've been providing us with good music for free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Just when one thinks he dissapeared... Kool, great to have first hand info! Btw, any idea about kickstarter or similar campaign for Ekto, Basilisk? I previously ran a crowdfunding campaign and hesitate to do another for several reasons. It is a huge amount of work, for starters, and it means I'll probably spend months working on the campaign and fulfilling all the perks/rewards rather than, you know, actually working on Ektoplazm. Moreover, I feel a little uncomfortable running another campaign given what was promised last time (a new web site) versus what I have been able to deliver (2+ years of new releases on the current site, which isn't something that would have otherwise been possible). I'll have more to say in a future blog post but for now I am relying on community support in the form of donations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunarDawn Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 ...for now I am relying on community support in the form of donations...Surely we will continue to spread the word, even donate if possible! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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