The OurStage Marketplace connects artists looking for gigs with venues looking for new talent. With amazing opportunities both around the USA and the world, the OurStage Marketplace is the place to be for up-and-coming artists!

Back in May, SideCho Media opened an EPK dropbox in the OurStage Marketplace in hopes of finding new independent talent to work with. SideCho found what they were looking for in OurStage artists August Rising and Jason Heath & The Greedy Souls, signing both bands to digital distribution deals. In addition to making their records available worldwide at over 250 digital retailers and promoting their new releases, SideCho will be helping the bands out on the management side to make sure they make the most of this opportunity.

August Rising

This week, we have a Q&A with August Rising. Although they have only been together for two years, August Rising’s hook-laden rock has made a big impression on fans and industry professionals alike. In addition to earning an OurStage #1 Channel Prize in the March 2009 Indie Rock Channel and having 20,167 friends on Myspace, the band’s song “Lay Your Hands On Me” was declared “a hit” by DJ Valentine of Los Angeles’ STAR 98.7FM. Their album August Rising was released digitally on August 18^th by SideCho Media and is available for download on iTunes, eMusic, Amazon mp3, Rhapsody and many more digital retailers. OurStage was able to ask the band some questions about their album and musical influences.

OurStage: Tell us about your record.

August Rising: Well, its something we’ve been working on for two years and are really excited about what we’ve been able to accomplish. We’ve tried to write songs that grab the listener initially with a catchy hook or chorus, but also makes them want to press repeat because there’s something deeper as well. We’ve also tried to keep it uncluttered and simple in certain regards, so we’re able to play everything that’s recorded in a live setting. We also don’t want to hide a song behind layers of sound, because our favorite songs usually have the distinction of simplicity. Hopefully our listeners will feel we’ve accomplished that.

OS: What do you think are the benefits of digital distribution?

AR: We really don’t think bands who are starting out can be very successful without embracing digital networking in at least some fashion. Even the established bands utilize it to promote and sell a huge portion of their music. It is the quickest and easiest way to get heard and start building a fanbase. Before digital distribution existed, up-and-coming music artists would have go play everywhere to build a fanbase and do things like sell music from the trunk of their car. Now we can reach more people in less time by using a computer.

OS: You guys seem like a pretty DIY bunch. What successful ways have you promoted yourselves that you would recommend to other emerging artists?

AR: Well back to the digital distribution side of things, we have embraced this and used it to its full potential. We have found that even though playing live shows night after night will still be the BEST way to promote you can still promote pretty heavily with the new hot sites (and older ones) like, OurStage, MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, etc…

To be honest, up to this point in our career we have learned and done everything pretty much by ourselves. In the music industry, which is ever-changing, you learn something new everyday. We find this fun because we can’t really ever get bored because there is always something new to learn.

OS: Kenny Lee Lewis (guitarist for the Steve Miller Band) personally trained lead guitarist Jarod Przewoznik. Has this had any influence on the band’s sound?

JP: Before I joined the band almost a couple of years ago in early 2008, I wanted to train extensively so when the time came and I found the right group I would have all the skills necessary to contribute to the band. I have had the fortune of meeting Kenny and being one of his guitar students, which was the coolest thing ever!! Not only did I go to his house every week for like 2 years straight and learn guitar techniques and tricks, I got to hang out and just talk about the industry in general. To answer the question and stop rambling, YES the training has had an influence on the bands sound.

AR: When we record in the studio we like to keep it simple and modern sounding but when we play live, the band likes to show off what we know, keeping every live show fresh.

OS: I see you’ve listed Toto as an influence on your Myspace page. Care to elaborate?

JP: There’s not much to elaborate, but long story short I met the lead singer Bobby Kimball and hung out with him a few times. The band Toto is classic and all the musicians are seasoned and experienced. August Rising wants to be the next big thing and be portrayed as professional and skilled as the old-time rockers in this new age.

Check out some more tracks from August Rising in the playlist below! Think your band has what it takes to land a digital distribution deal with SideCho Media? Submit your EPK to their EPK dropbox in the OurStage Marketplace.

For more info about August Rising, click here.

For more info about SideCho Media, click here.

For more info about the OurStage Marketplace, check out the Marketplace FAQ section.