Audiosocket

Johnny Fiasco

Over the past twenty years, Johnny Fiasco has become a legend and recognized as a true pioneer of Chicago's house scene. This impressive producer and remixer logs 150k plus frequent-flyer miles a year spinning at clubs and special events globally, from Seattle to Istanbul, including every major city in US. His remarkable sound can gracefully combine soulful electronic sounds, tech vibes, fundamental house, disco, and pure funk. Growing up on Chicago's South Side, Fiasco’s beginnings can be found at the famous club Shelter. He began pushing the boundaries as one of the pioneers of house music side by side Mark Farina at Smartbar, Lizard Lounge and the infamous Club Naked. Today, Fiasco is one of electronic music’s top producers and remixers. His reputation as a producer has landed him work with labels such as Sony, Jive, Epic, Warner Bros, and indies such as Defected, Om Records, and Universal UK. His vast catalog includes work with artists such as Kaskade, Owl City, Rihanna, KD Lang, Gloria Estefan, Michelle Indegeochelo, Donna Blakely and Bob Sinclair. Billboard Credits Johnny Fiasco’s Samantha James "Rise" #1 chart position and Beatport’s #1 download in December of '06. In 2003, one of his remixes was #1 Billboard® chart-topping dance floor rework of Justin Timberlake's smash single "Cry Me A River." Without a doubt a Fiasco record can always be found in the hands of DJs worldwide. Current side projects also include cutting edge sound design for mobile devices and music licensing for brands such as Budweiser, Marlboro, and MTV.

Listen to “One Night In Taipei”

The Wandas

The Wandas spent the better part of 2010 touring the bejesus out of their third album, New Wave Blues. In the process, they caused a few bloggers’ jaws to hit the floor at South by Southwest and squashed the competition at WBRU’s Rock Hunt battle of the bands. The retro rock charms found on New Wave Blues should mollify anyone put off by the fact that none of these four dudes are actually named Wanda. The catchy and heartfelt “Thank You Note” exemplifies what a hit single should be, “Lose You” gushes lovelorn anguish, and “Please Come Home” proves that sounding like Neil Diamond isn’t necessarily something to be ashamed of. Still, it’s the Wandas stage show–which manages to be at once tight and bombastic–that has them topping our lists.

Kero One

After receiving accolades from Will.i.am, signing with a major label in Asia, and touring with Korean super group Epik High at sold out venues such as House of Blues Hollywood and The Fillmore Irving plaza, Kero One not only picked up new fans but new inspirations for his third solo album. Often compared to the styles of Common, Mos Def, or even Kanye West, Kero One, a San Francisco MC stands as a true testament to the do-it-yourself success story.

Listen to “When the Sunshine Comes”

The Beatards

The three eclectic NYC innovators: DJO, Chuck Wild, and UTK the INC, started the innovative MIXTAPE RIOT! parties where artists such as Santigold, Spank Rock, Trouble Andrew, Kudu and over 60 others have performed at. The Beatards blend a popular variety of hip-hop, electronic, and international sounds that reflect upon the band’s diverse individual backgrounds. They have performed around the country in popular venues and clubs sharing the stage with artists such as Public Enemy, Mr. Lif, Shwayze, Bang Camero, LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Lady Sovereign, to name a few. They will be featured on an upcoming compilation for Santastic Clothing in Japan alongside Wale, Travis McCoy from Gym Class Hero’s, Kid Cudi and others. The licensing request are pouring in and the group has over 10 placements in June alone on shows such as The City, Parental Control, Road Rules and 6 songs in the premier of Real World Cancun. They are working with other independent and major brands such as PUMA and Red Bull and the group’s fan base is growing every day.

Listen to “Dang Diggy Dang”

K'naan

If you haven't heard of K'Naan yet, don't worry, you will. He's the official music face of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and has been touring with Lenny Kravitz! The Mogadishu, Somalia-native turned Harlem-ite is everywhere! World tours with Snoop Dogg, NPR Showcases at SxSW, MTV Featured videos and more. With world music beats and intelligent, quick-witted rhymes, K'Naan's debut record, Troubador, is a huge radio and licensing hit. He has been featured in several video games and network TV shows and we've got his debut: an instant office favorite that blends classic soul with a smart, modern hip hop edge.

Listen to “The Dusty Foot Philosopher”

Tim Seely

I don't believe this is Tim Seely. It's obviously Zack Galifianakis. The beard, the thick tussled hair.. all classic Zack. But even though Tim's identity is in question his musical skills aren't. Tim is perhaps best known as the voice behind his former band The Actual Tigers (their critically lauded, poorly promoted debut/swan song, Gravelled & Green, was released on Capitol/Nettwerk America in 2001). After the demise of the ‘Tigers and their record deal, the Seattle native retreated to the small town of Oxford, Mississippi, to write and record the majority of what would become Funeral Music. Dennis Herring (of Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello) produced Tim's debut from which the song titled, ironically enough, On Film I Play Myself is found. Though commonly a hometown headliner, he has landed supporting slots for such notable artists as Giant Sand, Nicolai Dunger, Clem Snide, Josh Rouse, Sparklehorse and Ed Harcourt.

Listen to “On Film I Play Myself”

Zelazowa

Without a fancy record deal, without the help of management or any other kind of machinery pushing it forward, Zelazowa has scratched and clawed its way into the international arena, booking its own tours throughout 48 states and 15 European countries (headlining shows along the way at such legendary clubs as Live Nation's Garage Club in Oslo, Norway, and Sony Music's Sala Heineken in Madrid, Spain) and achieving radio play on more than 200 stations across the nation.

Listen to “You Say Love”

Andrea Wittgens and Sugartown

Combining sultry, engaging vocals (she has been compared to artists as varied as Rickie Lee Jones, Regina Spektor and PJ Harvey) with original songs that are both hypnotic and exuberant, and always showing immaculately appropriate musicality with clever yet disarmingly honest lyrics, she has been holding audiences in rapture throughout the Northwest. Andrea's instantly arresting voice garnered excited reviews both at home in the Northwest and on the east coast where Andrea performed to packed houses at legendary NYC venues like The Living Room, The Knitting Factory, and The Bitter End.

Listen to “Marching Orders”

Anomie Belle

Anomie Belle has proven herself to be a legitimate quintuple threat as a masterful composer, producer, programmer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. Her sultry, smoky vocals combine with her slithery, seductive programming for the perfect balance of sexiness and darkness. Having toured with the likes of electronica stalwarts Tricky and Little Dragon, Anomie Belle is poised to find itself among the most revered names of the genre.

Listen to “Down”

Dan Sistos

Dan Sistos is a Spanish guitar master with a knack for making people move with his brand of Flamenco and World Beat music. His song La Mezquita is a rollicking Spanish tune with an infectious groove. Dan's playing is tasteful but lively. He takes his time to build his solos but always creates moments of pure Spanish magic.

Listen to “La Mezquita”

July For Kings

July For Kings is an ultra-melodic rock band from the Cincinnati Ohio area comprised of singer/songwriter Joe Hedges, bassist Brian Ives, guitarist John McGuire and drummer Dan McQuinn. In 2002 July For Kings released their debut album SWIM on MCA Records. The first single "Normal Life" received airplay on stations all over the US including #1 most requested on Las Vegas KMBX, garnering national media attention from Billboard Magazine, Rolling Stone, and InStyle. July For Kings has toured nationally with Muse, Collective Soul, The Counting Crows, The Calling, etc.

Listen to “100 Pianos”

Dynah

Dynah is a britpop group from Austin, TX. Dynah is poised to garner more attention, with a knack for writing hooks that stick and songs that sound ready-made for an audience and one of the most successful emerging Austin bands. Watch the music video herefor their single, Promise. The band rode into New York City and blew away the crowd at the Audiosocket CMJ Showcase. Recently placed in MTV, Nickelodeon, and A&E's The Closer.

Listen to “Promise”

Stars Go Dim

Stars Go Dim found a loyal and growing fan base growing organically from the sessions that produced the band’s initial trio of songs, which also garnered the group a number of songwriting awards. The band has opened for Switchfoot, Daughtry, and shared the stage with Paramore, The All-American Rejects, and The Roots. After explosive sets at SXSW the quartet found itself out to sea on The Mayer Craft performing with John Mayer, O.A.R., Guster and more cruising the islands and playing to hundreds of new fans. SGD have recently seen placements in Hollister stores, MTV’s "The Real World DC", and landed an endorsement deal by Fender.

Listen to “Come Around”

The Diplomats Of Solid Sound

Since the release of their first 7-inch single, "Bullfrog Boogaloo," in 2001, the Diplomats of Solid Sound have been mining America's vast deposits of soul music to create a sound all their own -- a spare-but-spicy groove sired equally by progenitors such as Booker T., James Brown and The Funk Brothers. The group has share stages with Sharon Jones, Robert Walter, Wilco, The New Mastersounds and The James Taylor Quartet and toured in Italy, France, and Spain. DOSS tracks have been played on the John Peel Show and The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show on The BBC, and have served as soundtrack music for many television programs, including NBC's new hit show, Mercy.

Winterpills

This Northampton, Mass. quintet has a signature chamber-indie ambience. Their albums' production style runs the gamut from boombox lo-fi to crisp studio sonorousness; dense rockers balanced by quiet hymns; and an overall diversity in instruments and textures. All of this backs the wandering words of songwriter Philip Price, and here we can see him condensing his meditative lyrical approach into mantras contemplating the frailty of humanity.

Listen to “Take Away The Words”

Boat

BOAT is a band about stories. Stories about dinosaurs, quirk, real-life, baseball, blisters, punctuation, and the ferocious sounds of lobsters and snakes. See, these things are all details that make up the boys of BOAT, a band begun as a basement dream of one David Crane (let's call him D.) that spiraled into one of the most resourceful, most imaginative bands in Seattle. Armed with stories from his inside scoop of the windy city, D. Crane rounded up good friends, cheap equipment, a few burritos, plenty of diet soda, and set off, full-steam ahead. The band started selling out of their personalized records once they started playing shows around the northwest, and folks from Vancouver, BC to San Francisco started to take notice. The band then released two full-lengths to critical acclaim. A 7.4 on Pitchfork.com here, a song on NPR's "Song of the Day" podcast there. Things were looking up for BOAT.

Listen to “Lately (I've Been On My Back)”

Alexis:Alexander

What do you get when an ethereal-voiced, Goldfrappe, Bebel Gilberto like, French-speaking, folk-rock-pop singer influenced by Joni Mitchell crosses paths with a guitar-playing, electronica guy with edgy, underground sensibilities and amazing sound and rhythm loops? You get Alexis/Alexander. This creative, eclectic, fluid and ever-changing songwriting and performing duo is proud to announce its recent release of two EP's. Categorized as sensual, down tempo, trip hop, ambient, world beat, electronica, and were mixed in Portland, OR, by Dean Baskerville, at The Kung Fu Bakery (mixing studio of The Decemberists and Pink Martini, amongst others.

Listen to “Say Yea”

Love in October

While ostensibly a rock band, Love In October has an ABBA streak in them so pop they might just burst; the melodies and itchy keyboard lines jumping like Mexican beans. Love In October is currently in the studio with Passion Pit's producer working on another disco-dance-rock, fourth album jamboree. Recently placed with Urban Outfitters, Toyota, snowboard films, and the online gaming site Our World.

Listen to “Permutations”