Self Raising Records

'Love Part II' pre-order, Friends Electric Remix

2010-08-25T03:32:00.000-07:00

Bright Light Bright Light's 'Love Part II' CD single can now be pre-ordered at Amazon!

Yesterday it was the no. 1 preorder, which is VERY exciting for us here!!

Follow this link and order a copy if you like!

Also, while he's off on tour with Ellie Goulding in November, Friends Electric have landed an official remix on the release of Ellie's 'The Writer', which you can find on iTunes. Fantastic!

xx

Bright Light Bright Light signs with Popjustice HiFi!

2010-07-14T03:20:00.000-07:00

We are very, very excited to announce (slightly later than they did - apologies) that Bright Light Bright Light has just signed with new pop label Popjustice HiFi!

On 13th September, they will release his debut single proper 'Love Part II' as a download and deluxe CD.

Both formats feature:
1. Love Part II
2. Cry At Films (feat Del Marquis)
2. Love Part II (Pepptalk Remix)

and will look a bit like this:

And if you go HERE now, you can get the bside absolutely free.

AMAZING

xxx

Martipants Mix Tape

2010-06-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

Martipants' brother has turned 30. This will be of absolutely no consequence to any of you other than that it has prompted him to make a mixtape!

Some absolute gems on this mix. Have a listen here!

Martipants & OLO Worms

2010-05-31T02:17:00.000-07:00

Our very own Martipants has been schmoozing with OLO Worms again, and has remixed their track 'Back From England'.

It's available on a FREE EP they've put out here

And you can see it here:

Go get it x

Friends Electric video

2010-05-26T01:33:00.000-07:00

On June 14th Friends Electric release their first single 'Wall Of Arms'

In the meantime, here's the video!

NME / The Great Escape

2010-05-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

Bright Light Bright Light is in the NME this week! The Radar has picked him up, finally, and on p.21 you can read all about him and his hits in the making.

AND ... if you're off to The Great Escape, you can watch the live show for free!

3.15 pm at The Latest Music Bar x

Kelis Remixes : Friends Electric / BLBL

2010-05-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

So two of our artists now have Kelis remixes floating around the internet.
Get them here now, put them on quick!

Friends Electric Remix
Bright Light Bright Light Symphonic Remix

In other news, the Dave Aude remix is great. Not wildly different, but huge.

xx

Releases Round Up : April / May 2010

2010-04-28T03:46:00.000-07:00

Lots going on! So we're trying to compress it into a little e-bulletin.
Which goes something like this...! :

UPCOMING RELEASE:

Friends Electric - Wall Of Arms
[SRR10D]

Neath's newest dance/electro band Friends Electric are releasing their debut single following live dates with Frankmusik, remixing Ellie Goulding and Noisettes, and playing at SXSW last year.
OUT : 24th May 2010
WHAT: Digital Download
AND...? : 1. Wall Of Arms 2. Beta Blocks 3. Wall Of Arms [Friends Electric Remix]

OUT NOW:

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents - City Lights
WHERE : iTunes
WHY? : Q Magazine and Kissy Sellout love them.

The Venus Stare - Close To You
WHERE : iTunes // Ltd Edtion Cassette
WHY? : "by far the most exciting and cool band we’ve ever come across!" - Bad Fotography

Bright Light Bright Light - A New Word To Say
WHERE : FREE from www.brightlightx2.com
WHY? : "One of the 100 best things about pop music" - Popjustice

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents single out today

2010-04-19T03:57:00.000-07:00

The fantastic 'City Lights' is now available!

1. Radio Edit
2. James Yuill Remix

Get now from iTunes. We love it.

x

City Lights single - free remix

2010-04-06T01:27:00.000-07:00

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents have their second single out this month. On the 19th, the rather epic 'City Lights' will be available as a digital single featuring the radio edit and a great James Yuill remix.

For now, you can get a free Bright Light Bright Light remix:

'City Lights' [Bright Light Bright Light Remix] mp3

x

The Lexington special show 12th April

2010-04-05T02:46:00.000-07:00

Monday 12th April is the first headline Bright Light Bright Light show of 2010, and the first ever with the addition of Chris on drums.

The show at The Lexington, London, is going to be a bit of a special one. We've got Alun Davies [La Roux, Vogue, Lady Gaga] designing a set for the night, Sink The Pink DJing between each act, and supporting are SRR's own Friends Electric and the wonderful Velo.

Tickets are £6 advance from ticketweb to guarantee cheapest entry.
Doors at 8.

And if you didn't already know, you can get the free 'A New Word To Say' single from www.brightlightx2.com.

Here's the James Yuill Remix as a taster : [mp3]

Introducing ... Friends Electric

2010-03-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

Friends Electric, who hail from Neath, the same hometown as Bright Light Bright Light, are the newest addition to the Self Raising Roster.

We'll be releasing their track 'Wall Of Arms' on 10th May, but in the meantime you can do these things:

a) Check out their tunes on myspace

b) download their great remixes for
- Ellie Goulding
- Penguin Prison [our favourite]
- Noisettes
- Bright Light Bright Light

x

The Venus Stare OUT NOW!

2010-03-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

"YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M SEVENTEEN, SEVENTEEN!"

The Venus Stare's 'Close To You' is finally out! We're all very excited.

To entice you, here's a FREE REMIX by Clean Shaven Grins.

If you would the single direct from iTunes CLICK HERE!
If you're super cool and would like a limited edition signed cassette CLICK HERE!

Hope you have as much fun dancing round to it as we are.
And the numerous blogs who have written about them, including Bad Fotography, who call them "by far the most exciting and cool band we've ever come across"

WOW!

x

FREE 'A NEW WORD TO SAY' SINGLE

2010-03-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

OMFG.

Bright Light Bright Light has a new website, from which you can download a free single, namely 'A New Word To Say' as produced by Boom Bip.http://www.brightlightx2.com

Go to www.brightlightx2.com for the single and lots of info.

Oh, it's also POPJUSTICE's song of the day. Apparently Rod is "one of the 100 best things about pop music". NICE. [Thanks Peter x]

Close To You

2010-03-11T02:46:00.000-08:00

The Venus Stare delivered us their fantastic, OUTRAGEOUS video for 'Close To You'. Here it is in all its glory! The single is out March 22nd. Pre-order the limited edition signed cassette from their shop!

x

The Venus Stare : Close To You

2010-02-21T04:27:00.000-08:00

On the 22nd March, we're releasing this wonderful single:

The Venus Stare's 'Close To You' is released as a download and a limited edition cassette single. On it, you'll find the great original and a fantastic remix by Fear Of Tigers, one of our favourite people around.

Check iTunes, 7digital etc on 22nd March for the download.

You can pre-order the ltd edition signed cassette single now HERE.

And you can go listen to both versions at

www.myspace.com/venusstare

FREE VALENTINE'S DAY EP

2010-02-08T02:55:00.000-08:00

How wonderful! Valentine's Day is almost here again!

[spew]

Luckily our artists have clubbed together to make a free 4-track EP for you; a cover of a song of their choice, or in the case of Glorious Estefan, an original.
Silver lining to every cloud.

All you have to do is send an email to selfraisingrecords@googlemail.com
and later this week, the link to download it, for free, will be sent straight to your inbox.

It looks like this:

And on it you'll find:
Martipants - Love In This Club
Bright Light Bright Light - Landslide
Rob Cowen & The Dissidents - Sally Wheatley
Glorious Estefan - Second Date

xxx

Nerina Pallot & Bright Light Bright Light : When Doves Cry

2010-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Bright Light Bright Light was special guest on Nerina Pallot's internet broadcast gig on Monday night, and played one of his own songs, 'Love Part II', as well as this...

A stripped down and rather good cover version of Prince's 'When Doves Cry'

Watch, if you will, this video, see how you tremble inside.

Coming up in 2010 for Self Raising Records ...

2010-01-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

2010 is getting off to a very busy start! We have lots of releases coming up. Namely...

The Venus Stare - Close To You
release date : March 2010
*listen now on myspace*

The video is very almost ready and it's about to go to radio. This 80s powerpop outfit bring back the drama and majesty of your favourite 80s films. Great songwriting and big choruses with an exciting remix or two on the way as well...

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents - City Lights
release date : late March 2010
*listen now on myspace*

The band follow their fantastic debut single 'Heartache' with this rather epic number. Their last effort was picked up by Kissy Sellout, 6music and Radio 1, and no doubt this will take their sound to even more new fans. Such an incredible band.

And also the debut single by Neath pop/electro outfit Friends Electric.

They have recently remixed Bright Light Bright Light, Ellie Goulding, and have toured with Frankmusik. Nice.

ALL. VERY. EXCITING.

Free Ellie Goulding Remix by Bright Light Bright Light

2010-01-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

Everybody's talking about Ms Goulding.
Her much-adored tune 'Starry Eyed' is due out very soon, but while everyone's still humming her last, 'Under The Sheets', and it's still yo-yoing about the charts, Bright Light Bright Light has done his own remix of the tune which you can get for free here!

Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets [Bright Light Bright Light Boys Remix]

OLO WORMS mixtape

2010-01-05T01:06:00.000-08:00

Getting a little attention of late, OLO WORMS have included our own Martipants on their mixtape, which you can get FREE from the following blog of theirs

http://www.oloworms.blogspot.com/

Head on over and grab a few free tunes!

x

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T05:39:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to you all! Hope you have a great start to 2010.

Here are some free songs to kick start January:

Bright Light Bright Light - Blueprint
Martipants - Onyamonio
Glorious Estefan - Thrill Of The Chase
Rob Cowen & The Dissidents - Heartache

The SRR Sound of 2009 Poll

2009-12-13T03:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, we're nothing on the BBC Sound Of ... poll, but we thought we'd put together our favourites from the year that has just been. It's been a really great year for music, we think, and this is what's made our year

albums

1. Vitalic - Flashmob
2. Royksopp - Junior
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz
4. Post War Years - The Greats And The Happenings
5. Filthy Dukes - Nonsense In The Dark
6. Sky Larkin - The Golden Spike
7. Friendly Fires - s/t (I know, I know, it's technically 2008 but it's been on repeat and had a deluxe version...!)
8. Wave Machines - Wave If You're Really There
9. Memory Tapes - Seek Magic
10. Cortney Tidwell - Boys

singles / tracks

1. Filthy Dukes - This Rhythm
2. Simian Mobile Disco & Beth Ditto - Cruel Intentions
3. Miike Snow - Burial
4. Muchuu - Somebody Tell Me
5. Sound Of Arrows - Into The Clouds
6. Passion Pit - The Reeling
7. Calvin Harris - Flashback (we love the girl's line)
8. Penguin Prison - A Funny Thing
9. Basement Jaxx - Raindrops
10. Yelle - Qui Est Cette Fille [Robyn Cover]

gigs

1. Royksopp - Shepherds Bush Empire
2. Depeche Mode - Madison Square Gardens, New York
3. Elton John - Philadelphia
4. Filthy Dukes - Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (SO much lighting in such a small space!)
5. Post War Years - Old Blue Last / Barfly (one of the BEST live bands)
6. Gold Panda - Old Blue Last
7. Andrew Bird - Green Man Festival
8. Casiokids / Slow Club - South Street Seaport, New York
9. Loney Dear - SXSW
10. Sound Of Arrows - Gold Dust, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen

and some things we're looking forward to in 2010...

Ellie Goulding's album
The Venus Stare's 'Close To You' single
Rob Cowen & The Dissidents' 'City Lights' single
Gold Panda in general

HUNKS and Friends amazing Christmas video!!

2009-12-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

Jen Long, producer at Radio 1, co-writer of 'The Magic Of Christmas' and general star has made this AMAZING video for the HUNKS and Friends single.

So we present to you, as premiered by Drowned In Sound ... 'The Magic Of Christmas' ... !

HUNKS AND FRIENDS // 'The Magic of Christmas' from theartof agency on Vimeo.

HUNKS and Friends Charity Christmas Single

2009-11-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Much like a good pop song, even if you only listen to it once every twelve months.

This year, some of the finest acts in UK indie have come together to help save the cats, puppies and geese who could be left homeless after the festive period by lending their beautiful voices to a Christmas song that celebrates everything awesome.

The Magic of Christmas was written and recorded by Bright Light Bright Light’s Rod Thomas and Radio 1 in Wales’ Jen Long over 9 hours one Saturday in October, sat in a Cardiff flat in Christmas jumpers, drinking gin.

It was then mailed around the country with members of Sound of Arrows, Copy Haho, Sky Larkin, James Yuill, Slow Club, Cereal (Calum of Dananananaykroyd), Los Campesinos!, Sparky Deathcap, The Venus Stare, My First Tooth and The Airborne Toxic Event, all adding to the track and passing it on.

Huw Stephens will have the first play of the song on Wednesday December 2nd on his Radio 1 show. Stay tuned for the video aswell!

The track will be available to download from iTunes on December 14th with all profits going to the RSPCA.

Artwork (attached) by Sparky Deathcap

A designated blog that the bands will contribute to launches todayhttp://awesomeatchristmas.wordpress.com/

Self Raising Records - Volume One!

2009-10-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

Self Raising Records turns three years old today!

And to celebrate, we're releasing a sampler of our current roster simply called 'Volume One'

And because we're so excited about the songs on it, we're literally giving it away!

A great website called Music Glue allows you to donate what you'd like to to support the release so if you click on the picture or go *here* you can get the sampler for as much or as little as you'd like to donate.

On it, you'll find:

Bright Light Bright Light - Blueprint

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents - Heartache

Glorious Estefan - Thrill Of The Chase

Martipants - Onyamonio

All tracks are up on the Self Raising Myspace to preview.

New signing - The Venus Stare!

2009-10-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to add this band to the roster ...

We're putting out the debut Venus Stare single 'Close To You' in January, and you can hear it at their official myspace, which is so new it's very much under construction.
www.myspace.com/venusstare

Bright Light Bright Light EP

2009-10-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Bright Light Bright Light is doing a string of great dates this month, and a limited edition EP has been hand-made to take on the road.

A small number of these is available to order online *HERE* and it looks a little something like this:

All EP sleeves are handmade, with 4 different colours of thread and 4 designs.

On the EP you'll find:

Blueprint

A New Word To Say [with Boom Bip]

Your Love Is A Tease

How To Make A Heart

A New Word To Say [James Yuill Remix]

and EPs are £6 including posage & packaging

WELL DONE TO MUMFORD & SONS!

2009-10-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

We don't look after them in any shape or form, but Self Raising would like to say a MASSIVE congratulations to Mumford & Sons for debuting at no. 11 on the album charts!

We first met when Rod played with them back last February (which is when we met James Yuill too - a good night), and have been in love with their music ever since.

you can buy their album here from iTunes. Do. It's awesome

WELL DONE!
xxx

Track of the Day for Q Magazine

2009-10-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents' 'Heartache' is Q Magazine website's Track of the Day!

http://news.qthemusic.com/2009/10/rob_cowen_the_dissidents_-_hea.html

Fantastic!

"The debut single of Yorkshire-born singer-songwriter Rob Cowen and his band The Dissidents, is a Bruce Springsteen one indeed. Not that there's anything wrong with that, far from it.
The pounding and big guitars of Heartache, like The Boss circa Born To Run, are layered underneath big choruses, bigger harmonies and a well-placed glockenspiel on this heartfelt track of stadium-sized, singalong-friendly and intoxicatingly engaging open-road rock."

Autumn Sale & Mixtape

2009-10-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

So, Autumn has come and as we mentioned before, it's been a whole year since 'Same Old Lines' came out!

So celebrate and mark this, we've decided to do a special sale on Rod Thomas' 'Until Something Fits' album and make it available at £5 including P&P. "Wow!" I hear you cry.

[Click here to buy]

You can also enjoy a free mixtape from Martipants called 'Bleeps and Squeaks'. It's rather good!

Martipants 'Bleeps and Squeaks' Mix by Self Raising Records

Serious Moonligting 2 ...

2009-10-03T03:33:00.000-07:00

Who's this in Peep Show??

It's only Bright Light Bright Light, James Yuill and Sophie from My First Tooth!!

Serious Moonlighting...

2009-10-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Who's that on guitar for September... !

Happy Birthday

2009-09-30T03:08:00.000-07:00

Rod Thomas' 'Same Old Lines' just received a glowing review ... exactly one year after it was released!
Happy Birthday!

iTunes single or on 'Until Something Fits' album

"Through stormy of the glitz and glamour that is the current whirlwind of instant fame. The hardworking and in-it-for-the-love-it one man bands are being left to dry out, forgotten about on the roadside.

However, once in a while a reminder is served, showing up the now norm contrasting ability of someone like Londoner Rod Thomas. Illustrating the potential intimacy, heart and poignancy that’s the by-product of one mind and, most importantly, it’s still standing firm.

This time Rod chooses the ukulele fuelled, slow building and deep searching ‘Same Old Lines’, as the single that will give some momentum to the cause of the one-man band. At times, his delving spirit and ability to allow his vocals to hover over a low key, but cushioning accompaniment is reminiscent of Scott Matthews.

It’s a warming illustration of the need to slow down, take stock and indulge in a little life pondering."

- Glasswerk

Martipants scores short film

2009-09-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

Martipants recently made the music for a short film called 'Breathe'.

It's up here to watch in full:

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents EP OUT NOW

2009-09-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents' Ep 'Heartache' is out now!

And you can download from any of these places:

iTunes
7digital
play.com
HMV

and treat yourself to the original, a James Yuill remix, a Bright Light Bright Light remix and an exclusive acoustic bside 'Alice In Sunderland'.

We've had support from Kissy Sell Out, Jon Hilcock, Tom Robinson and Rory McConnell across Radio 1, 6music and Xfm, which is a great, great start!

We're very excited about the first release from this fantastic band.

x

Bright Light Bright Light vs Ace Of Base

2009-09-21T02:27:00.000-07:00

Our new friends Robot Pigeon interviewed Bright Light Bright Light about his music and what he's been up to, and as part of their interview they're giving away an exclusive mp3.

It's a mash up of 'Same Old Lines' and 'The Sign' which you can get here (and read the interview).

And this is when the track first came about, at a fundraiser to send Rod to SXSW:

Bright Light Bright Light + Noisettes = Great night out

2009-09-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

It's just been confirmed that Bright Light Bright Light will be supporting The Noisettes at Shepherds Bush Empire on 27th October!

We're very excited!

Yeah!

Good Times on Radio 1

2009-09-17T01:55:00.000-07:00

Bright Light Bright Light's 'Good Times' got its first Radio 1 play last night!

As always, Bethan Elfyn and her team are real gems, playing it just after The Joy Formidable, who are also GREAT. Thanks guys!

A video for the track is being made as we speak which should be done before too long. Keep your eyes open. But for now, listen to 'Good Times' either on the myspace or on Bethan's show for one more week.

What's mine is yours

2009-09-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Self Raising Records has been putting out records for a little while now, and we really appreciate all the support.

Autumn is here, and it's almost the season to be generous, so we thought we'd get in there early and give away some of our favourite tracks.

Two of our favourite remixes of Rod Thomas tracks are yours:

Same Old Lines (James Yuill Remix) [mp3]

- James did a fantastic electro re-working of the last Rod Thomas single.

Your Love Is A Tease (Dave Delgado Remix) [mp3]

- Dave plays in Milke, a fantastic pop/electro group. And does fantastic remixes, such as this.

And we gave away this great Martipants track as a free single just before 'Good Lads' came out. Here it is again.

Dark, Dark House [mp3]

Autumn's Self Raising Records releases

2009-09-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

The leaves are falling and Kissy Sell Out is falling over himself for our new release!

On 28th September Rob Cowen & The Dissidents 'Heartache' EP is released through Self Raising Records.

tracklisting:

1. Heartache
(original)

2. Alice In Sunderland
(exclusive acoustic version)

3. Heartache
(James Yuill Remix)
4. Heartache
(Bright Light Bright Light Remix)

Kissy Sell Out has already played the track twice on Radio 1, doing his own remix of the track, and XFM and 6music seem to be fans too. All in all, a great start for Rob's superb song.

To whet appetites, there is a Martipants remix available for FREE here. Enjoy!

In other news, Bright Light Bright Light has also remixed Goldie Lookin Chain!

Their new single 'Everybody Is A DJ' comes out on the 28th September also, and features his remix. You can listen for free online now at his remix page.