Le blog du Baron

25/04/2008: ZEROCAST #15

Many people have said it before (and some have even sung it) but I love Paris in the springtime ! Bank holidays seem to follow one another as quickly as do pretty girls in light dresses and best of all, all the Parisians are gone away to the countryside.

Perfect time to wander throughout the streets with ZEROCAST #15 playing in your ears. With new remixes from JUSTICE, MANU CHAO, VAMPIRE WEEKEND and many more it is the perfect soundtrack for a perfect Parisian afternoon.

Here is the track list (and if you like what you see, check this out):

1. JUSTICE Genesis (Chewy Chocolate Cookies Remix) download buy
2. CHROMEO Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT Remix) download buy
3. EDISON GEM Things change (Atlantic Connection remix) download buy
4. MANU CHAO Politik Kills (Chris Blackwell & Paul Groucho Smykle remix) download buy
5. THE KILLS U R A Fever (JazZstePpa Remix) download buy
6. ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI Like It Or Not (El Guincho Remix) download buy
7. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Black Dominoes Remix) download buy
8. LADYTRON Destroy Everything You Touch (Hot Chip Remix) download buy
9. HOT CHIP Ready For The Floor (Smoothed Out On An R'n'B Tip Version) download buy
10. THEATRE OF DISCO YOA (The Twelves Remix) download buy
11. GONZALEZ Working Together (Boys Noize Remix) download buy
12. FISCHERSPOONER The Best Revenge (Oliver Koletzki remix) download buy

All the tracks featured in this blog are the sole property of their owner(s). If you like what you hear, please support  the artists by buying their original work or going to see their concert. If you would like your songs removed   from this site, email me directly and I will take them off as soon as possible

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23/04/2008: ESTABLISHING YOUR PRESENCE ON MUSIC PLATFORMS

As far as online presence is concerned, I have a tendency to follow COKE's marketing credo: "always be within arms's reach of your consumers". Meaning that each and every time I stumble onto a new social/music platform I create a band profile and upload a few songs. 

Now, I'm obviously not able to activate all of them (even most of them) frequently which sometimes leaves me with a bit of a frustrating feeling. But at the same time, just being present is often enough to reap some benefits and I can only advise musicians who can bare 10 mn a day (creating a profile gets easier everytime as you want to keep a consistent image) to get into the habit.

WYPLANET is still in its beta mode and could do with a bit of a slickier look but they have been nice enough to pick BARON ZERO as one of the feature artists on their home page (and in such a way: "we've gotton a lot of compliments about you so we put you on wyplanet's home page - congratulations!"): check it out here. Thanks again Lisa !

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22/04/2008: GETTING MR MAYOR TO PRODUCE YOUR ALBUM ?

Considering how bad times are for the music industry, you would expect that the last thing the French city of MONTIGNY wants to do is open its own label ! Created in 2007, the objective of MONTIGNY MUSIC PROD is to support local talents and help them gain visibility at a national level. To date MMP has produced 6 different artists including hip hop female band IRULIA.

More details on the city's site here (in French) or at MySpace: www.myspace.com/smamontigny78.

technorati tags: Secteur Musique Amplifiee Montigny le Bretonneux Montigny Music Prod Irulia
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21/04/2008: THE ULTIMATE RADIOHEAD REMIX COMPILATION (ZEROCAST SPECIAL)

Finally here is the special issue of ZEROCAST dedicated to Radiohead remixes or in other words (drum roll): the ULTIMATE RADIOHEAD REMIX COMPILATION.

It was tough to chose between so many great remixes inspired by so many great songs (not talking about the 500+ remixes of Nude) but the final track listing speaks for itself:

• RADIOHEAD Blow out (remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Street Spirit (Funkagenda Remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Planet Telex (Karma Sunra remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Talk Show Host (Black Dog remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Climbing Up the Walls (Fila Brazilia remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Idioteque (Adam Freeland remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Everything In Its Right Place (Josh Wink remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Everything in its Right Place (Phoreyz vs. Radiohead Remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD In Limbo (Boo Maga Living in a fantasy Remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Skttrbrain (Four Tet Remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD The Gloaming (DJ Shadow Remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD We suck young blood (Solcofn mix) download buy
• THOM YORKE The clock (Surgeon remix) download buy
• THOM YORKE Analyse (Various Remix) download buy
• THOM YORKE Skip divided (Modeselektor remix) download buy
• THOM YORKE The Eraser (Stretch & Vern Edit) download buy
• THOM YORKE The Eraser (Xxxchange mix) download buy
• THOM YORKE And it rained all night (Burial remix) download buy
• THOM YORKE Harrowdown Hill (Extended Mix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Videotape (Mojib remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Videotape (Ring Trick Mix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Reckoner (LoveTongueAttack Bmore Remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Nude (Holy Fuck remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Nude (Shanghai Restoration Project remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Nude (We Plants Are Happy Plants remix) download buy
• RADIOHEAD Weird Fishes (Amplive remix) download buy

All the tracks featured in this blog are the sole property of their owner(s). If you like what you hear, please support  the artists by buying their original work or going to see their concert. If you would like your songs removed  from this site, email me directly and I will take them off as soon as possible

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20/04/20088: DOWNLOAD EVERY TRACK FROM BARON ZERO FOR FREE

Welcome to the music vault where you can download every single track from BARON ZERO free !

If you like what you hear, buy the tracks, leave a tip, spread the word, share the music (every song is under Creative Common license), write a comment, etc ... and don't forget to come back as I will be adding more songs regularly. LE BARON    

                                                                                                                                                                                   SIGNATURE TRACKS: you have only 8:43 to spare ? Not to worry ! All you need do is download the zip file hereafter to discover BARON ZERO signature tracks - No easy way, Neverafter and Eiffel Power - and get a flavour of what this is all about download

FOLLOW THE EYE (2007):

• BARON ZERO Is everything in place: the opening track for the brand new album. In short ? A punchy start ... download buy
• BARON ZERO No easy way: a mean bassline which takes off like a rocket, sends you spinning like a sattellite to remind you that "without the bitter babe, the sweet ain't so sweet" download buy
• BARON ZERO Eiffel Power (part 1): the soundtrack for a party right at the top of the Eiffel tower ... A funk/rock track with bags of groove and bags of attitude: just bag it ! download buy
• BARON ZERO New day rising: an uplifting ballad about love and miracles. "She's got eyes like a new day rising, a smile like the sun floating through the sky" download buy
• BARON ZERO Positive: a rock song about AIDS. Because every 10 seconds someone somewhere in the world dies from it. This track lasts 3:43 ... I let you do the maths download buy
• BARON ZERO Neverafter: where it all began. The end of a love affair and le Baron's very first song download buy
• BARON ZERO She shines: accoustic guitars and African drums for a story about magic, the moon and fairies: a tribal summernight's dream download buy
• BARON ZERO New day rising (slight return): like a distant echo: when the words have dried and the paper has yellowed, only remain the faded colours and the melancholy download buy

REMIXES (2005-2008):

• BARON ZERO Leave them all behind (London dance remix) download
• BARON ZERO Leave them all behind (Vienna mellow mix) download

DEMOS (2005-2008):

• BARON ZERO Firebird (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO Black flies (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO New day rising (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO New day rising (reworked demo) download
• BARON ZERO Silver Surfer (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO Ashes (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO Positive (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO Leave them all behind (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO Eiffel Power part 1 (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO She shines (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO She shines (reworked demo) download
• BARON ZERO Neverafter (original demo) download
• BARON ZERO New day rising slight return (original demo) download

  This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

technorati tags: Baron Zero Follow the Eye free download Creative Commons
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15/04/2008: ANNOUNCING THE ULTIMATE RADIOHEAD REMIX COMPILATION

COMING SOON I will post in a few days a Zerocast special: the ultimate RADIOHEAD remix compilation. 30 tracks re-invented  by the best remixers, spanning the entire carreer of Radiohead from Pablo Honey to the most creative entries of the recent Nude remix contest.

And as an appetizer here is another NUDE remix by DGenetics which might still make it onto the compilation:

RADIOHEAD Nude (DGenetics Stream of Conscious remix) download

See you all in a few days, same place, same time !

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13/04/2008: CREATE NEW REVENUE STREAMS WITH MERCHANDISING ... LIKE JUSTICE !

It seems common sense these days that there is more money to be made in selling T-shirts and merchandising than in selling music. This is probably what has driven JUSTICE to launch together with SURFACE TO AIR a line of clothes. As reported by Fashion Window here:

Gaspard and Xavier’s (Justice) love for leather jackets has almost become their trademark, together with the large light up cross that shines throughout their shows. Their love for leather jackets recently brought them to the design table of Surface to Air Paris studio. Together, they designed X & G’s dream leather jackets.

The result: a limited edition series of 3 jackets (150 pieces), and 2 jeans, conceived and designed by Justice for Surface To Air. With a very exclusive distribution, the line will be available beginning June at the following locations: Surface To Air Paris, Surface To Air Brazil, Colette, Barneys, Lane Crawford, Isetan, Le Bon Marché, Paris Texas, Asylum, Le Shop, Incu.

Of course, JUSTICE had some fun in the past in experimenting with T-shirts (remember this video, anyone). But this is an opportunity which is open to all bands (I even had a first go at designing a BARON ZERO T-shirt like this).

So if you feel like exploring new creative support (not to talk about potential new revenue streams), here are 2 places to start from:

• CafePress: easy to use. Also allows you to sell books and CDs.
• Zazzle: very comprehensive and you can add on your MySpace.

technorati tags: Merchandising revenue streams Justice Surface to Air
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12/04/2008: ZEROCAST #10 (re-issue)

NB: this is a re-issue of my June 07 post ...

Summer keeps coming and going in the blink of an eye, so what's left to do but have a party ! So here is Zerocast #10, the latest issue of Le Podcast du Baron: with remixes of Justice, Cassius, Daft Punk and Yelle, it leans heavily on the dance side with more than a little French touch. As we say in French "vas-y, Raymond, monte le son" !!!

Here is the track list (and if you like what you see, check this out):

1. RAZORLIGHT Can't Stop (Tong & Spoon Pure Pacha Mix) download buy
2. DEAD DISCO You're Out (FrankMusic Remix) download buy
3. JUSTICE feat. UFFIE The Party Smack (My Luvtek Remix) download buy
4. DAFT PUNK Da Funk (Casino Inc. Amazing Disco Remix) download buy
5. CASSIUS Rock Number One (Radiopolitan Rework) download buy
6. MR. BROWN I Dance For Money (Midnight Art remix) download buy
7. DAVID LAST Bubble Tea (Royale's Fenyan Remix) download buy
8. YELLE A Cause des Garcons (Riot in Belgium Remix) download buy
9. THE RUSSIAN FUTURISTS Paul Simon (Lo-Fi-Fnk Remix) download buy
10. STARS He Lied About Death (Metric remix) download buy
11. BLOC PARTY I Still Remember (Lull's Music Box & Tears Mix) download buy

All the tracks featured in this blog are the sole property of their owner(s). If you like what you hear, please support the artists by buying their original work or going to see their concert. If you would like your songs removed from this site, email me directly and I will take them off as soon as possible.

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08/04/2008: HOW CAN I HELP TIBET ?

Following on an already pretty bad Sunday in London, the run of the Olympic Flame in Paris yesterday turned out to be what we can only call a complete disaster.

Pro-Tibet demonstrators and RSF (= Reporters Without Borders) created an incredible amount of chaos and stole the show, interrupting the event so often that in the end the Flame spent probably as long in a bus than carried by athlets. Tibetan flags seemed to be everywhere, the Paris City Hall was decorated with a large banner in favour of human rights, so was the Eiffel Tower with a banner from RSF and close to 40 French MPs stood outside of the National Assembly building with cries of "Free tibet".

                           

I have to admit I feel some strong sense of pride in my compatriots, mixed with a hint of disappointment. I don't grieve for the Olympic Games, whose ideal have been forgotten a long time ago in favour of politics and big money (Moscow anyone ? LA ? Coca-Cola city ?). Of course the athlets are not to blame but in all fairness the OIC only reaps what they seeded years ago by chosing the host city in spite of China's human rights records.

I've been asking myself for a while what I can do at my level to help a country which has inspired me so much, people who have touched me and ideals which still make me dream. So here is what I do:

Download TCVBrochure-Eng.pdf

I support the TIBETAN CHILDREN'S VILLAGE which gives children, who have been smuggled out of their country over the Himalayas, a shelter, an education and a 2nd home. They are the future of Tibet and the hope of a peacefull cohabitation with or within China. Have a look by yourself here.

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07/04/2008: THE POINT OF BUILDING CONTACTS

I have posted last month about the NYU research done recently to evaluate the impact of blog buzz on music sales - check out the full post here. I have also mentioned that I would contact all the people/record labels who had been sending me reviews of bands or mp3 links to post.

Well, so did I. I'm not sure whether this could turn to be a useful approach to promote BARON ZERO in the longer term (on the other hand, every bit counts), but I got this great email back from Chris B. at Series Two record:

"Thank you for the posting. And thanks for the information on the blogs and sales. I cannot attest to how accurate that would be if they would have used more artists as examples. For example Springfactory has been mentioned on blogs in total nearly 80 to 100 times and i was only ever able to sell about 30 copies of their record to date. But their two first ep's sold out but not sure how many were sold, etc. since they were with other labels.

Feedback in regards to your music i'd best compare it to a lot of major labels and major indie labels bands from Britain. I guess more of an 80's influence but also i can hear influence in your music from some of the newer British bands. If i were to narrow it down it reminds me a bit of the 80's bands that were coming out of Manchester. And for newer music maybe some of the more hip British bands being talked about by NME these days. I heard The Ocean Blue in your songs for some reason. And a lot of Sarah Records in there but not sure if you know that label or not but in case you don't they were doing lots of indie pop releases in UK a while back. I also hear a little bit of Dave Gahan/Depeche Mode. Overall the tunes are well produced. Sounds a lot like underground modern rock sort of like the kind that is coming out of the east and west coast USA now. Your vocals also bring to mind a german band www.myspace.com/deadguitars the voice at times reminds me of Carlo Van Putten who is their singer. He collaborated with Adrian Borland and Mark Burgess and Marty Wilison Piper among others".

Chris, big, big credit to you for taking the time to reflect on BARON ZERO music. I'll make sure to continue this discussion off line. And in the meantime, I can only post in return some of Series Two Record latest releases:

• www.myspace.com/theoddfiddler: great haircut ! But I'm personally less convinced about the songs.
• www.myspace.com/tafra: not mad about the sound but the songs are good in a quirky sort of way. Like a Croatian/Swedish version of Hot Chip, only slightly more DIY ?

technorati tags: blog buzz does chatter matters Series Two Records Baron Zero
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