To all those who potentially want to send a demo to Sound Devastation in the future. We know what we say in our Biography, and we still hold to that, but on the other hand, we want those who desire to be signed and released, to note the following few points.
I've completely knicked this from Ellen @ Holy Roar Records' blog, because I totally agree with it, and both labels seem to be in a similar position of receiving a vast number of demos per month. It is very flattering to receive 2/3 per day, but there needs to be some quality control here! I've meant to write something along these lines for a while now, but seeing it so eloquently put, I decided to lift it as it mirrors SD's position exactly, and edit it just a little.
1. SEND IT TO THE RIGHT GODDAMN LABEL. If, as your bio says, you are a pop rock boyband who could appeal to McFly's fans, maybe sending it to a label which has a lot to do with noisy, heavy new music and is staunchly independent just might be a complete waste of time. Spamming people and sending your demo to everyone possible always crops up in some really naive bands' strategies to get signed. The whole 'it can't hurt, one must like us' mentality is a waste of everyone's time. Do some research into who you're sending it to, think of labels you actually like, and show you actually have a clue. For example, we get tonnes of shit pop-punk bands sending us stuff. We have and will NEVER release pop-punk. To those post-rock bands constantly sending us demos... Yes, we have released some like minded bands, but please note that they are in the minority when refering to our roster.
2. ONLY SEND A DEMO WHEN IT'S RUDDY WORTH IT. You recorded 3 songs in your mum's garage and haven't played a gig yet. Maybe wait a few months, heck even a year, before thinking someone will want to release anything by you. I blame Myspace for this whole mentality of bands who think they should be signed way before they're actually ready. Send a demo when it's good and you're good, why bother with something crappy? I'm almost tempted to change our policy on demos entirely on this point, and state that any unsolicited demos will not be listened to. But I'm not that kind of person, and SD is not that kind of label. However, please note the above. Don't send us a recording of your first practice.
3. DO NOT SEND A LENGTHY 2 PAGE 'BIO' WHICH IS ACTUALLY JUST A LIST OF WHO MET WHO WHEN AND THEN A LIST OF ALL THE GIGS YOU'VE PLAYED. We barely acknowledge bios unless it's clear from the offset it's a band we're potentially interested in. This usually comes down to picking out your influences and what you might sound like. That's why it's worth attempting some kind of description. We really can't be fucked to read 600 words which tell us nothing about you because 'you're so impossible to describe because you're so unique, man'. Get over yourself. List a couple of influences if you want, a couple of genre reference-points, and that's usually enough.
4. DO NOT USE ANY OF THESE PHRASES IN YOUR BIO/LETTER:
i) 'The band was formed with the sole intention of playing great music and having a good time' (As aside to what exactly? Yeah, I formed a band to play shit music and be unhappy...)
ii) 'We've spent the last year gigging constantly and building up a devoted fanbase' (Your definition of gigging constantly might be different to ours; and do make sure that your devoted fanbase isn't your mates and the kids that constantly turn up to the one local venue in your town).
iii) 'We don't fit into any genre/we're truly unique' (Ha! Of course we look for a certain degree of uniqueness, but as stated before, you have influences and you have consituent sounds that you must recognize as 'sounding like...')
iv) 'Now we want to take things with the band to the next level and release an album' (What next level would that be? Super stardom? I don't think so. Don't be fooled. Being signed is good, and we'll work hard for you, try and get you better gigs, your release in stores, etc, but you'll still have to work bloody hard. Good on the album though - SD will hardly be releasing any EPs unless we are TOTALLY blown away.)
v) 'Sign us' (I hate this - don't do it).
5. DO NOT PAY FOR GLOSSY BAND PHOTOS TO SEND WITH YOUR DEMO. Sending these is so unnecessary and something very few people will be interested in. In fact, sending any kind of photos is, in our case, completely pointless. Do NOT do it. Half of the ones are so fucking 'arty' we can't even see your faces anyway, so what's the point?!
6. DO NOT RECORD AND SEND COVERS. Don't even mention covers at all, let alone actually send a CD of you playing a few Nirvana songs. What's the point in that? Why would a label be interested in the fact you only started writing your own songs a month ago? It's ridiculous. DON'T DO IT, EVER.
7. DO NOT DECORATE YOUR JIFFY BAG TO MAKE IT LOOK 'EYE-CATCHING'. Actually it just looks 'annoying'. The whole 'we're going to stand out with a funky purple print-out and a pink jiffy bag' idea is worrying, shouldn't your music stand out?
8. DO NOT SEND A SCREEN GRAB OF YOUR MYSPACE PROFILE. Never had this done to us, but don't. Just don't...
9. DO NOT MAKE AN AWFUL CLIP-ART/MICROSOFT PAINT COVER FOR YOUR CD. No cover is better than that awful font you used for your logo and the hurriedly copied + pasted 'arty' photos. I've seen a couple of covers I've liked, which can work in your favour if it's genuinely good, but if you haven't got one, don't sweat. I do like to see an effort having been put into a demo though, so do have a go, but don't rush it, and if you haven't got the time, don't do it.
10. DO NOT KISS ARSE. You do want us as a label to take a risk and invest money in your band and release something, so yes, you want us to like you, but don't go overboard. Keep things simple, we are not mystical fairy creatures from the far away land of A&R. We are just normal people, so it's usually the simple CDs in plain plastic wallets with a short decent bio which wins over any extravagant attempts to grab our attention and win us over.
Next to no bands get signed from a demo submission anyway. I think we've signed one, maybe two bands from demo submission. So what's the point in all of this then? Well, send it if you want, but much more importantly is to get out there and play gigs. Record decent material at a good studio and when it's ready put it online and get people interested in you first, rather than thinking the label should do it once you're signed! Pro-activity in the real world, rather than the fact you can be bothered to post us a CD, is much MUCH more important.
We at SD try to listen to every demo sent, but due to the amount mentioned above, we simply can't give feedback to all. If you get a message saying we liked it, but can't work with you, don't be downhearted. This will probably mean that we really liked it, but just don't have the time/money to work with you. However, if you do get a message, then it's always a good idea to keep in touch now and again, and to send any future material to us. If you don't get a message at all, take a hint.
On the issue of unsolicited demos: You can of course send us your demo. Our address is on our website and on our Myspace page for all to see. However, we are MUCH more likely to take note of your demo and perhaps listen a little more intently if you message us on here or by email BEFORE you send it. IF you get messaged by us for a demo please do NOT think that it is an indication that we are going to sign you! It obviously means that whilst browsing the internet you sparked our interest or perhaps even impressed us, but it guarantees nothing. It is an indication, in some way, that you have moved to a next 'step' as it were, of consideration for a release, but this does not mean to say we will.
OK, this is all sounding rather sombre and serious. We do of course enjoy getting lots of demos and, as stated before, find it flattering that so many regard SD as somewhere they would like to call home, so thank you to all those that have. I can tell anyone waiting for some kind of response that at the present time, nothing we've been sent that we aren't ALREADY in discussions with, is or will be considered for release.
More news soon, including new releases, updates on when vinyl versions might arrive, and so on.
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