Outward Sound Recipients Round 3 2011

The third round of Outward Sound grant recipients for 2011 have been named. Ten grants were awarded comprising one Stage Two and nine Stage One grants.

Avalanche City – Stage 2

It has been an amazing year for Avalanche City, following on from a #1 single in the New Zealand Chart (Love Love Love), a #4 album, three nominations at the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards and a highly productive appearance at MUSEXPO in LA which helped them on their way to a world wide deal with Warner Music. Avalanche City are currently setting up the release of the album Our New Life Above The Ground in an impressive sixteen territories. The international release campaign begins in Australia and Japan with both companies making the band their #1 local priority act. The grant will be used to support key promotional activities including radio/TV appearances, print interviews and live showcases. As part of the Australian promotional push the band recently performed two packed showcases to an international array of guests at the Big Sound music conference in Brisbane. And yes people were singing along to ‘Love Love Love’.

Princess Chelsea – Stage 1

Princess Chelsea is the moniker of New Zealand composer, Chelsea Nikkel. Nikkel studied classical piano throughout her childhood and teenage years as well as dabbling in drums, guitar and clarinet. While at high school she discovered her love of composition, writing and recording her first song “Monkey Eats Bananas”. Nikkel went on to spend the better part of her twenties developing her recording and production skills while also touring as a member of Sub Pop recording artists The Brunettes. The results of these experiences is the debut Princess Chelsea album Lil' Golden Book.

Her label Lil Chief are currently re-launching the label in the US College radio market with the initial promotional activity centering on Lil’ Golden Book and Pickachunes eponymous debut album. The labels efforts so far have been rewarded with Lil Golden Book making the CMJ top 200 adds chart, placing at #18.

This Stage One grant will allow Princess Chelsea to undertake a showcase tour of the East Coast of the USA including appearances at CMJ. In addition bass player Miles McDougall will be performing side shows as Pickachunes.

I Am Giant – Stage 1

Consisting of two ex-Blindspott members, drummer Shelton Woolright and guitarist Aja Timu, along with Ed Martin on vocals and Paul Matthews on bass, I Am Giant are fast collecting fans and notoriety across the globe.

I Am Giant have now set their sights on Australia. They have just released their Forrester Savell produced album The Horrifying Truth through Sony Australia and with the help of a Stage 1 grant the band are now embarking on a nationwide Australian tour in support of the album’s release with popular band Dead Letter Circus.

Flip Grater – Stage 1

Flip Grater would have to be one of the hardest working singer/songwriters in New Zealand. Over the past year she has released her third album While I’m Awake, I’m At War, played a sold out tour of New Zealand, and toured Europe extensively.

On this last European trip Flip signed a deal with French-based management company So-U, as well as a European record deal with German label Make My Day Records and secured booking agencies for France, Germany and Portugal. With the European release of her album, Flip Grater is embarking on an Outward Sound supported showcase tour of Portugal and Germany. The tour also includes an appearance at the Reeperbahn festival.

Sola Rosa – Stage 1

Since Andrew Spraggon’s first formative releases as Sola Rosa at the turn of the 21st century, he’s steadily built a reputation for his deft synthesis of styles and quiet disregard for the niceties of genre boundaries. With a catch-all sound encompassing the best of hip hop, reggae, jazz, latin, soul and funk, all six of Sola Rosa’s critically acclaimed albums are a potent distillation of the music that’s influenced Spraggon over the course of his decade long career as a musician and producer. From a humble, self-released one man project to a decidedly deadly live collective, Sola Rosa has grown from a national treasure into an act of truly international repute.

Having recently signed a global deal with influential label Melting Pot, Solar Rosa is now taking his music out of NZ and into the wider world. With the help of a Stage One Outward Sound grant Sola Rosa is undertaking a showcase tour of Canada, USA and Europe to support the global release of the Sola Rosa’s fifth album Get it Together.

One of the biggest success stories to have risen from the Parachute Music Festival would have to be the Hip Hop/Rock band Rapture Ruckus. Signing to US Christian label BEC in 2009 saw the band relocate to Nashville Tennessee where they are currently based. After extensive touring in support of a highly successful introductory EP the band are releasing their first US album September 27th. This grant will allow the band to support the release of their new album through a tour with award winning band Group 1 Crew.

Street Chant – Stage 1

Recently nominated for Best Alternative Album for this year’s New Zealand Music Awards, Auckland’s ‘Meanest trio’ Street Chant are heading back to the USA this October. Armed with an Outward Sound grant plus a years worth of touring, extensive US college radio promotion and a much anticipated second album the band and management will be talking with interested labels regarding the release of the new album and showcasing the new material at this year’s CMJ.

Cairo Knife Fight – Stage 1

The sonic rock and roll explosions that emanates from ‘power duo’ Cairo Knife Fight has been described by one NZ industry heavyweight as the closest thing one could get to a genuine ‘Hendrix’ like live experience. He is not alone in his worship of the band as they can count such heavyweights as Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stoneage as fans. Further love has been demonstrated with the band being nominated for best rock album for the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards. With interest shown from overseas promoters and labels, Cairo Knife Fight are now heading to the United States with assistance from Outward Sound to perform a number of showcases in and around CMJ and to meet with array of potential business partners.

Elizabeth Marvelly – Stage 1

The past five years have been a wild ride for young Kiwi artist Elizabeth Marvelly. Two international signings, two major European tours culminating in a performance at the Royal Albert Hall, two top ten records and singing the national anthem at the Bledisloe Cup matches in Brisbane and Auckland are only the tip of the iceberg. Her critically acclaimed album Home is being released in Australia through her label EMI Australia on the 14th of November. This grant will be used to support pre-release showcasing, interviews, and other additional promotional activities.

The Golden Awesome – Stage 1

Made up of former members of Mëstar, Cloudboy, and Mink, The Golden Awesome have been wowing audiences since their inception. It was after seeing the band playing their stunning show at last years Camp A Low Hum that Brett Lyman of M’Lady Records signed the band to his cult New York based label. The album Autumn is being released in the US this October and the band will travel to the US with assistance from Outward Sound to play a series of showcase dates including appearances at CMJ to promote the release of this album.

Applications for the next round of Outward Sound grants close on October 25, 2011 at 5pm.

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