Category: THE LABEL

New HSAL Sounds Are EVERYWHERE!

Posted on Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

HONEYBRANDY

First off, today is the official release date for the new honeybrandy record, “Deaton Forestbrook“! You can now stream the entire thing (all 39 minutes & 20 seconds) wherever you’d typically listen.

We’re pushing everyone we know to stream/purchase the new single, “Not In Our City” this weekend! We think the message couldn’t be more timely. It features a speech given by Dr. Keith Anderson to the Lynchburg VA City Council in prelude to the formation of the Alliance for Police Reform. Help us communicate this example of powerful things going on in small towns all over our nation!

L.A. DIES

L.A. Dies, Spring 2020 (PC: Tori Goodman)

Earlier this month, L.A. Dies were featured on a benefit compilation whose proceeds will benefit the purchase and continued operation of mobile shower units for the homeless community in the city of Birmingham, AL. There are also hopes or hiring homeless neighbors to clean and maintain the showers. Their track, “A Year In My House” predicts further exploration into the darker pop sounds of HSAL #49…

BENJAMIN MAUCH

Cover of “A (C)able Tethered To The Sky” (sefl-released, 2020).

Ever the composer, Benjamin Mauch just dropped a new album into the digital landscape. “A (C)able Tethered To The Sky” is a collection of pieces that Mauch wrote and performed using only the Novation Peak. All the trademark duality of bouncy melodies and contemplative tones you’ve come to expect from the Richmond-based artist are here. Proceeds from the purchase are being donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

It’s a new honeybrandy record!

Posted on Posted in RELEASES, THE LABELTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

HSAL #58: honeybrandy, “Deaton Forestbrook”

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2020

Joey and Nathan have been contemplating a record that mimics their live perfromances since dropping their debut LP – “Deaf Sharp” – back in 2017. The seasons since have found honeybrandy sharing stages with guitar focused acts (Andrew Weathers, Soporus) as well as acts that lean into electronic aether (Benjamin Mauch, Oahu). The duo studied, taking notes on various methods of composition and presentation.

“Deaton Forestbrook” showcases both artists’ penchant for the balance of drone and rhythm. “Which Are Not Pronounced” and “Not In Our City” lean into programmed drum loops while “These Words” finds layer after layer of synth and lap steel swarming around meditative instruction. The entire back half of the release is a single long form piece that could easliy score a fever dream.

AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: early Tangerine Dream, Emily A. Sprague, The Inward Circles

HSAL #57 Goes Farther!

Posted on Posted in COVID-19, RELEASES, THE LABELTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

GREAT NEWS! Our most recent compilation, “Isolation“, is now available on Spotify! Over the coming days, you’ll find it popping up on most every digital platform. Stream/share this one with everyone you know. We are all responding to this strange season in our own ways. Consider this collection from among the Commonwealth’s finest are soundtrack to the full range of emotion. Thanks for listening…

“Isolation” being recognized!

Posted on Posted in COVID-19, RELEASES, THE LABELTagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Since releasing last week, HSAL #57 has been streamed over 500 times! It’s been great to see/read the positive repsonse to this record. Over the weekend, the comp started showing up on radio playlists:

Where have you seen “Isolation” pop up? News feeds, podcasts or other streams? Let us know…Our sincerest hope is that it brings comfort to anxious ears and hope to heavy hearts.

Our latest compilation features tracks from Benjamin Mauch, Opin, From Overseas, Opin, Young Hierophant and many more!

HSAL #57 IS LIVE!

Posted on Posted in COVID-19, RELEASES, THE LABELTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Given how difficult it’s becoming to readily acknowledge which day of the week it is any more, we went ahead and pushed HSAL #57 out this morning. Truth be told, we know what day it is (March eleventeenth, right?) – we just couldn’t wait to deliver this collection to you all. Birthed out of the myraid feelings isolation has caused / is causing, this set presents over an hour of introspective, contemplative pieces loveingly crafted by some incredible Commonwealth-based artists. Each act has not only provided music, they have written out what this season and this project has done in and around them. Take some time to read through the content with each track. Oh, the download comes with bonus material as well (extra track, videos).

Above all, we hope HSAL #57 will provide head / heart space to work through feelings and land at a posture of peace. There’s no need to fear. LOVE DEFEATS FEAR!

STREAM / DOWNLOAD “ISOLATION”

HSAL > COVID-19 (part two)

Posted on Posted in COVID-19, RELEASES, THE LABELTagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Spring is happening all around us! Regretfully, so is that pesky coronavirus. Your friendly neighborhood record label REFUSES to hand life over to an unseen force that threatens our very well-being. That said, we are also 100% on board with measures (be they responsibly insituted or culturally mandated) to stop the spread of said unseen force. Here’s the next installment in a series of posts to reinforce what the HSAL family is doing amidst the COVID-19 scare.

HSAL #57: Various Artists, “Isolation”

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2020

Perhaps the most unnerving element tangled up in this historical moment is fear. Fear of the future. Fear of contraction. Fear of engagement. These things ought not be. As a community, we reach across technology to share art, which in most every case is an expression of love (directly or indirectly). In a season where multiple pressures were driving people away from each other, your friendly neighborhood record label worked with friends and family to collect recordings made during the COVID-19 scare (03/13/20 – ???). The result is this compilation of sounds primed for times of solitude and contemplation. Of the many emotions that reside in these sounds, may one thing ring true – LOVE DEFEATS FEAR!

AVAILABILITY: DIG (download comes with extra goodies)
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp

FFO: PAN‘s “Mono No Aware“,  Unseen‘s “Disquiet” Series, Past Inside The Present‘s “Healing Sounds“

HSAL > COVID-19 (part one)

Posted on Posted in COVID-19, SIGHTINGS, THE LABELTagged , , , Leave a comment

Your friendly neighborhood record label REFUSES to hand life over to an unseen force that threatens our very well-being. That said, we are also 100% on board with measures (be they responsibly insituted or culturally mandated) to stop the spread of said unseen force. As such, we are beginning this series of posts to reinforce what the HSAL family is doing amidst the COVID-19 scare. Last week, we ran a “social distance” sale – thanks to everyone who jumped in on it. Orders were shipped on Monday, so keep a close eye on your mailbox.

Elliott’s streaming a live set this Saturday night!

As parts of the HSAL family get creative with their isolation output, we will share the ways to stay connected here. This weekend, Elliott from You’re Jovian will be streaming a live acoustic set from his tidewater confines. #1 – you should check out the set. #2 – if possible, throw him the coin you’d hand the door guy if Jovian were playing your favorite haunt (NOTE: Elliott’s a venmo guy).

Starting 2020 Off Proper!

Posted on Posted in RELEASES, SIGHTINGS, THE LABELTagged , , , , Leave a comment

Hope you and yours made the holidays special in unique ways. We took the downtime to exhale in preparation for all that the new year will swing our way. Here’s what we know right now:

L.A. DIES ON WNRN!

PC: V. Coleman

The Commonwealth’s widest reaching independent radio station, WNRN, has just picked up “Feels Really Small” from the four-piece’s HSAL debut for regular rotation. We supremely proud of this record, so it’s swell to learn of it capturing the ears of others.

HSAL #52 IS ABOUT TO DROP!

Cover image for HSAL #52 created by James Wood.

Our next release comes courtesy of Blacksburg’s Graven Image. This EP, the first proper recording for the cello/synth + voice duet, was tracked at the Old City Cemetery Chapel right here in Lynchburg back in November. Joey from honeybrandy sat in on the session as well. The result is a really dark ethereal pair of long-form compositions that feel akin to the work of Julianna Barwick or Richard Skelton. The band is going to end up with most of cassette run, but we will have a handful to sell once the release drops in February. Stream a sample from the EP here.

OUR BANDS OUT & ABOUT!

Most of our acts are hitting stages in the coming weeks. Here are the dates we know about (follow the bands directly for the most up-to-date information):

  • L.A. DIES / TLVS: 01/10 @ Taphouse (Norfolk)
  • YOU’RE JOVIAN: 01/24 @ Fuzzy Cactus (Richmond)
  • L.A. DIES: 01/25 @ Nicky’s House (Richmond)
  • TLVS: 01/25 @ Speakertree (Lynchburg)
  • YOU’RE JOVIAN: 01/31 @ Meridian (Williamsburg)
  • YOU’RE JOVIAN: 02/01 @ Tea Bazaar (Charlottesville)
  • HONEYBRANDY: 02/07 @ The Academy Center (Lynchburg)

Do the bands a solid – dance, sing along and buy some merch!

Thanks, Folks!

Posted on Posted in THE LABEL, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

We’re only days away from the end of the decade! It’s been a complete BLAST working with so many talented folks thus far. We are especially thankful for what 2019 brought our way:

  • EP’s from Good Dog Nigel and You’re Jovian
  • Full lengths from Andres Momentomori and L.A. Dies
  • A double CD from Oahu
  • A completely killer ten-year anniversary party at the Academy Center featuring friends old and new

We threw together this Spotify playlist as a “debrief” for all that action that we were a part of this year. Also included are some choice sounds that the Commonwealth birthed over the past twelve months. Some of these are as-of-yet unsigned acts (Emily Brophy) while others are between labels (Big Baby, KEEP, Opin). Then there is the latest single from our good buds DEMONS for good measure…

Here’s to a new year, a new decade, and a new chapter in the HSAL story!