Music For Libya and songwriting
We have had an interesting year so far. The European Debt Crisis, a potential new carbon tax (in Oz), the U.S. debt ceiling that could be raised (will they raise it? ...of course they will borrow some more, whether you like it or not!). Well, life just goes on, really. Me, I like the liberty of being able to make music - it's a different universe that I escape to.
Last night I had a wonderful jam with Samuel and DC Cardwell. As well as going through some old chestnuts (well, the songs aren't THAT old), we worked on some new ones. I recently had a frenzied writing session that lasted a whole week in my home studio. I was asked to see if I could come up with some "fun" 60s music for a TV show in the U.S. Some people think that the Monkees are fun, while others prefer the Grateful Dead. I kind of took the middle ground (well, one of the songs sounds a bit like The Monkees). I am grateful for the opportunity. Currently, I am in the process of recording them and hopefully they will see the light of day in the near future.
In April, I became involved in a project called When The Morning Comes (Music For Libya). It was the brainchild of Gunnar Simonsen and within six days, he released a compilation album of international artists to assist in HISG's humanitarian efforts in Libya. It was put together to help raise money to purchase 30 metric tonnes (66,000 lbs) of flour in Egypt and transport it over the border to supply local bakeries. The album is still available for download at www.musicforlibya.org. I just about fell out of my chair when they used my song and named the album using the song title. To top it off, two of my other favourite songwriters appeared on the album, DC Cardwell and the late Larry Norman.
DC and I put together some video footage and if you look under the "Video" section on my website you can see a couple of the promo and the "bloopers" videos from the session.
Writing and recording
I am currently writing songs for a new album and I start co writing with a friend of mine, DC Cardwell, in the next couple of weeks. That should be a blast.
Hello Me To You radio release for U.S.A and Europe
Hello Me To You (the single) was released on 6th July to 2,300 radio stations worldwide including
- FM (All Major Markets)
- Europe FM (Italy, France, Germany, London, and Spain)
- College Radio
- On Demand
- Sirius Satellite (Over 100 Channels)
- AOL Music
- Yahoo Music
- MTV
- VH1
Distribution on powerpop label, Not Lame Records
Victor's album, Hello Me To You, was named on Pop Underground as one of the best in 2009. As a result, Bruce Brodeen (CEO of Not Lame Recordings in the U.S.A.) and Victor were in contact recently to set up distribution through Not Lame. The company is probably the most recognised Powerpop label in the world and carries thousands of well known titles from artists such as XTC, Todd Rundgren, The Shazam, Elvis Costello, Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, Cheap Trick, The Raspberries, The Beatles,, etc. Powerpop is such a great genre of music that really commercially peaked in the late 70s/early 80s but the world of the internet has connected a community of people that follow it dearly, holding it in high esteem and with as much respect and admiration as jazz or blues. The Not Lame website is a great place to start for buying titles and supporting powerpop artists. I highly recommend it.
Hello Me To You album voted in Best of 2009
Hello Me To You" was named as one of the Best Albums of 2009 by Pop Underground. The album ranked 114 out of a possible 200. Pop Underground is a community of writers, musicians, industry observers and fans united in their love of insanely great popular music.
Matt Swanton's last gig with The Methinks
Dear friends,
It is with much sadness that I announce that the man of many talents, Matt Swanton, is leaving The Methinks at the end of the year. Matt was pivotal in the latest incarnation of The Methinks in recent years. He was a valuable contributor to the overall sound of the band through his piano/keys, guitar and vocal prowess. He will be sorely missed. His generous spirit encouraged me in my journey of putting the latest album together and he is also a great friend.
Matt is joining the crew of MV Logos Hope (that’s a ship y’all) for a two year missions trip. I just know that Matt is going to have a blast and we will truly miss him. Matt will join the rest of the band (Darren, Alex and I) for a final gig before he leaves. Come and celebrate with us as we wish him a fantastic trip. It’s extra special because the venue is owned by a very good friend of mine, John Lever and it’s our last gig of the year.
Here are the details….
When…
6:00pm Saturday 12th December, 2009
Where…
The Grocery Bar
135 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda (Melbourne, Australia)
Hope to see you there.
Hello Me To You - Radio Airplay
Hello Me To You, the single, has so far been played on the following radio stations...
2GLF, SYNFM, Albany Community Radio, 2NVR, 2IAM FM 94.1, 92.9 FM, Power 98.1 FM / 2NM, PhoenixRadio.com.au, Radio 4K1G, 2DAY FM, CVC Network, 101.9 Coast FM, UGFM, Radio Monash, 5YYY, Twin Cities FM, Voice FM, Magic FM / 3AW.
Also, special thanks to Noddy & Brommers for playing it on Home Brew Radio which airs on the following stations nationally...
NSW
2ECR - Eden
2GCR 103.3 FM - Goulburn
2HOT 102.9 FM - Cobar
2KRR 98.7 FM - Kandos
2LVR 97.9 FM - Forbes
2MAX 91.3 FM - Narrabri
2MIA 95.1 FM - Griffith
2OCB 107.5 FM - Orange
2TLC 100.3 FM - Yamba
2WOW 100.7FM - St Marys
Opal FM 89.7 - Lightning Ridge
2YAS 100.3 FM - Yass
2MNO Monaro FM 90.5 FM, 93.3 FM, 93.9 FM - Nimmitabel
VIC
3HCR 90.9 & 97.3 FM - Omeo
3MBR 103.5 FM - Murrayville
3MGB 96.9 & 101.7 FM - Mallacoota
3HHH 96.5FM - Horsham
3RIM FM 97.9 - Melton
QLD
4DDD 89.9 FM - Dalby
4NAG 91.3 FM - Yeppoon
4RRR 101.7 FM - Roma
SA
5KIX 90.7 FM - Kingscote
5EFM 88.3, 89.3, 94.7 - Victor Harbour
WA
6YCR 101.3 FM - York
6CRA 100.9 FM - Albany
6KCR 102.5 FM - Kalamunda
6SEN Capital Community Radio 90.5FM - Perth
TAS
7MID 97.1 FM - Oatlands
Hobart FM 92.1 & 96.1 - Hobart
NSW
2RRR FM 88.5 - Ryde
TRIPLE H FM 100.1 - Hornsby
BAY & BASIN 92.7FM - Jervis Bay
2RDJ FM 88.1 - Burwood 2BAY
99.9 FM - Byron Bay
2BBB - North Bellingen
2BOB 104.7 FM - Taree
2CHR - Cessnock
2LIV 94.1FM - Coniston
2MIA 95.1 FM - Griffith
2MCE - Bathurst
2NSB 99.3 FM - Chatswood
2UUU 92.3, 99.7 & 104.5 FM - South Nowra
2CCC 96.3FM - Gosford
2WET TANK RADIO 103.1 FM - East Kempsey
2SNR - Radio Five-O Plus - Gosford
2UNE - TUNE! FM - Armidale
VIC
3PVR Plenty Valley FM 88.6 FM - Mill Park
3WAY Great Ocean Radio 103.7 FM - Warrnambool
3CH - 100.7 Highlands FM - Kyneton
3OCR - Otway FM 99.1 & 104.7 FM - Colac
3ECB - Croydon
3UGE UG FM - Alexandra
3VKV Alpine Radio 92.5 - Mt Beauty
QLD
4BI Switch AM 1197 AM - Fortitude Valley
4BSR 101.5 FM - Beaudesert
4CCC Warwick Community FM Radio Assn Inc 89.3 FM - Warwick
4GEM 95.1 FM - Bowen
4RED 99FM - Margate
4BAY - Thornlands
SA
5BBB 89.1 FM - Tanunda
5GFM 89.3 FM - Kadina
5GTR 100.1 FM - Mt Gambier
5TRX 105.1 FM - Port Pirie
5YYY 107.7 FM - Whyalla
5PBA - 89.7 FM - Salisbury East
TAS
7RGY HUON FM 95.3 FM - Geeveston
7TAS 97.7 FM - Nubeena
7LTN - City Park Radio - Launceston
NT
8CCC - Alice Springs
Hello Me To You, has also been thrashed on Rich Horton's U.S. Internet Radio station, The Pure Pop Pub. Thanks Rich!
Extra special thanks to Lindsay Crawford and Mark Copolov (Purple Haze radio show) at Southern FM and Rob (The Chord Recliner radio show) at Gove FM for contuinual airplay and the interviews.
A couple of other songs from the album, Morning Star and Nineteen Years Ago have been played on radio show, Vital Bits, on 3RRR (Melbourne).
Interview - Victor and Matt on 88.3 Southern FM
Victor Stranges and Matt Swanton will be appearing on Lindsay Crawford’s radio show, Purple Haze, on Southern FM 88.3 (Melbourne, Australia) between 8.00 and 10.00pm on Wednesday 16th September. There will be an interview and we will be playing tracks off the new album, Hello Me To You. We may even be playing a couple of songs live in the studio. Hope you can tune in.
September is for diehard fans
We are doing 3 shows in September to support the release of the new album, Hello Me To You. We are offering a House Concert at YOUR place to the most enthusiastic Victor Stranges & The Methinks fan. Come show us your love by coming to as many shows in September as possible.
Now if for some strange reason there is more than one person that comes to all 3 shows and you actually want to host a Victor Stranges & The Methinks House Concert, we will look at extra criteria (to be determined). The first available retail hardcopies of the album will be available on September 5th at Purepop Records (on the day of the gig). Hope to see you sometime soon.
Facebook, finally...
I have just opened up a a Facebook site . I'm not sure if I have set it up correctly but hopefully I have... Methinks this is the link.
TV and film placements? To be continued...
I am pleased to announce that I have just signed 6 separate 18 song deals with 5 music libraries in the U.S. and 1 in Australia. These companies are actively shopping my songs for film and TV placements internationally. If you hear one of my songs in an ad, TV show or film, you are not going crazy, I promise you.
