Smoky-voiced country-blues singer Lay Low has signed a worldwide record deal (excluding Iceland) with Canada’s leading independent label Nettwerk. The deal came about after Nettwerk CEO Terry McBride - who was in town attending the IMX conference "You are in Control in October last year, saw Lay Low perform at Reykjavík’s Fríkirkjan Church. The concert was a release party for her second album Farewell Good Night's Sleep.
"Terry McBride and Mark Jowett of the Nettwerk Music Group want to express that Nettwerk is thrilled to be working with an artist as compelling and beautifully special as Lay Low, and we look forward to doing our best to spread the word about this magnificent artist to as many people in as many countries as possible," said a spokesperson for the label.
"We are really looking forward to release the new album with Nettwerk,” added Lay Low manager Kári Sturluson. “I sense a good vibe from their camps in Europe and North America and have met up with many of them in the progress of getting the deal done. The company has been really successful with female artists and without doubt it will continue to be so with Lay Low. I must use the opportunity and also praise Icelandic Music Export for throwing the music industry conference "You are in Control" which brought many industry people to Reykjavik. At the end of the day it resulted in us teaming up with Nettwerk."
The exciting news comes in the wake of iTunes in the US tipping Lay Low as one of the Best New Artists of 2008. Those who haven’t yet witnessed Lay Low’s unique low-slung sound will be happy to know she is supporting the magnificent Emiliana Torrini on her European tour (Jan 29th - Feb 20th) and will also open for her London date on March 13th at the ULU. "Farewell Good Night's Sleep” will be released on March 9th in Europe (March 6th in Germany), while a North American release date is being decided. Summer festival spots are being booked right now, and Lay Low - so far - remains unpublished.
Stórsveit Nix Noltes on UK Label Fat Cat
UK label FatCat are to release Stórsveit Nix Noltes’stellar new album “Royal Family – Divorce” this spring. The label recently signed Iceland’s finest 11-piece Balkan-folk ensemble, which is comprised of some of Iceland’s most prominent academic and indie musicians, including members of múm,Benni Hemm Hemm and Kría Brekkan to name a few.
After spending the summer of 2006 recording themselves in a small cottage on the outskirts of Reykjavik, the group are ready to present to the world a second collection of their stunning visions of Eastern European trad-folk, to be released in April in the UK and May in the US.
A record suitable for both wild parties and home listening, the skillful musicianship found in “Royal Family Divorce” easily holds its own among bands such as Beirut, A Hawk And A Hacksaw and The Black Ox Orkestar, as well as holding tightly onto an unashamed distinctiveness that’s as exciting as it is considered.
www.myspace.com/storsveitnixnoltes
Source: IMX
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