Relaxed Machinery - organic .: ambient :. techno

[jkn]

Launching in January, however, I've started blogging about setting up the label, how it's going to work, all the behind the scenes stuff, how decisions were made, etc...      Everything you ever wanted to know about launching a label, and probably a bit more than you wanted to read (ha!).   I'll be posting regularly and if there's something *you* want to know about - just ask!

http://relaxedmachinery.com

No, not everything is "perfect" yet (the logo isn't working on Wordpress for one!).  I'm gearing up for launch, but fine with everyone seeing the pre-launch phase.    I've been working on this since I left AtmoWorks in June.

I'm very excited to announce that Steve Brand - Circular Scriptures will be the first release on 1/11/10.  It will be for sale as a download through CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc...     and as a CDR in the Hypnos store.  

I'll be releasing my first solo album in many years in August:  Interstitial - 08.09.10

John

  

[Sunbreak Music]

Cool--look forward to reading about that mountain I'm not willing to climb!   

[mgriffin]

Definitely looking forward to these releases, and glad to be involved.

[jkn]

I'm very happy to announce we'll be having a "Label Launch / New Release Listening Party" on StillStream.com on Saturday, January 16th at 9 pm CST.   

The party will be during David Herpich's "Zen Caffeine" program which normally runs from 9 pm to 1 am.   We'll be streaming the entire first Relaxed Machinery release:  Steve Brand - Circular Scriptures, as well as tracks from Steve's and my backcatalogs.

Special thanks to Darrell Burgan for the wonderful ambient internet radio / live ambient show platform he's created with StillStream.   And, of course, a huge thank you to David Herpich for hosting the Launch Party!

John 

[jkn]

Several new blog posts up...   enjoy!

[1000snakes]

Hey John,
  I AM enjoying! Thanks so much for sharing. Best wishes for a well deserved success with this undertaking!
Peace, Kirk

[jkn]

Thank you, Kirk!   It's a slow building process as I finalize the look and feel of the website.    I just this morning posted about what "organic .: ambient :. techno" means to me:   http://relaxedmachinery.com

Hopefully this weekend I'll get the top of the site looking the way I want it - with the Relaxed Machinery logo up on top and integrated into the photos that randomly appear (all the current ones are ones either I took or my wife took - but some of Steve's will also be appearing).    Steve's been such an amazing help with all the graphic design work - he's a wonder.

Steve is finalizing his Circular Scriptures artwork, he's done a stunning wallpaper design for it which we'll have for download when it releases.   That's one thing I really want to do with all the releases... besides the music, bring larger artwork back into releases.  Photos, stories behind the albums, etc...

 

[Exuviae]

Looking really nice! A great business model to boot.

[jkn]

Several blog updates since I last posted about it here... topics include:

+ promtional copies
+ rambling about me ready to record again
+ countdown to Steve Brand's Circular Scriptures
+ pondering demos
+ and adding Chris Russell to the release list

 head over to http://relaxedmachinery.com if interested.

Also:

Steve Brand – Circular Scriptures is scheduled for release on Jan 11, 2010. It will be available for download from CD Baby and as a CDR in the Hypnos store first… and later will roll out to iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc… We’re in the process of finalizing the release and it’s looking good for the 11th. Of course, things happen… it might be available a day or two earlier or a few days later. That’s ok!

The New Release and Official Label Launch party is set for 9 pm Central Time on http://stillstream.com on Jan 16, 2010 during the Zen Caffeine program hosted by David Herpich. A huge thank you to David and to StillStream for welcoming us and hosting the event!  I'll be in the chat room at StillStream during the show.

John

[jkn]

We are very, very close to releasing Steve Brand - Circular Scriptures.

A wallpaper designed for the album has been posted and Steve has blogged about the album on http://relaxedmachinery.com


Steve Brand - Circular Scriptures Wallpaper by johei, on Flickr

[jkn]

The label launch party on StillStream over the weekend went extremely well.  A very nice turnout in the chat room and I'm really pleased by how many people were listening.

I've continued to sporadically update the blog... please check in if you'd like...

My latest post is wrestling with the idea of changing my artist name... :-)

http://relaxedmachinery.com

[Austere]

We missed the label launch as we were both in SFO at the time and busy that evening.

But read your blog & your approach to the label looks great!

Wrote you about our thoughts on name change, just a suggestion, sorry for unsolicited advice!

Cheers and best of luck, mate!  As always, A

[jkn]

It was solicited advice, and thanks for it.

And thanks for reading through my long winded blog.   :-)

I haven't had a chance to officially announce it yet, but I've added a new artist to the label:  [/b]Bob Ohrum[/b].

The very high level outlook for releases (subject to change, of course) is this:

+ Steve Brand - Circular Scriptures   (out and available)

+ John Koch-Northrup - Temporal Arc   - a re-release of my "Interstitial - Temporal Arc" album as it's been pulled from it's previous label. (so if you already own it, thank you!  and don't buy it again!)

+ Chris Russell - Frozen - Chris has released two albums on AtmoWorks and is releasing his third with Relaxed Machinery.  This is a beautiful album hinting at the cold of winter flowing into the early hope of spring.   He's doing final mastering and such at the moment - targeting Mar/Apr timeframe.

+ Bob Ohrum - Elevated - Listening to the opening track of this album stunned me.  The beauty and raw emotion pours from Bob.  I love this album and thrilled to release it.   Timeframe May/Jun.

+ John Koch-Northrup - 08.09.10 - this will be a special release for me - as it will be my first new recordings in 5 years, as well as celebrating my 40th birthday.   And yes - the release date is Aug 9, 2010.  :-)

[Austere]

http://relaxedmachinery.com

I'm very excited to announce that Steve Brand - Circular Scriptures will be the first release on 1/11/10.

A pal of ours will be playing Steve's new CD on his radio show with Portland Radio Authority (http://praradio.org) this Wed (tomorrow):

http://praradio.org
Wed 3 Feb 2010 - "This is What It's All About" @ 8-10PM PST

Wethinks he said he'll play an opening Meat Beat track, then an intro break, then Steve's album in its entirety.

[jkn]

Austere - please thank you're friend for us.  We're thrilled Steve's entire album will be played tonight.   

And thank you for helping make this happen!

John

[jkn]

Several new blog posts up that might interest a few people.    I posted the press release and album art for Steve's Circular Scriptures.    It took quite a while to get the press release "just right", but it's out there.   

http://relaxedmachinery.com/

Also - a quick rundown of what's going on at Relaxed Machinery with albums from Chris Russell, Bob Ohrum, and Beta Cloud all in various stages of production.

http://relaxedmachinery.com/?p=212

[jkn]

We've started a new community:

http://relaxedmachinery.ning.com

I don't want to pull anyone away from Hypnos (never my intention).  However, if you'd like to join - it's very easy to upload your music and photos and art and such - as well as blog, etc...   So if you'd like an extra place to stop in and see what's going on - please stop by.   We'll be featuring a member every month or week (not sure how often yet) and putting them on the front page so everyone can listen or view their art or photography and build a conversation around it.

Of course - I'll still be here as always - have been for close to a decade and no plans to leave the Hypnos forum!

John