INDEPENDENT MUSIC PUBLISHERS EST. 1996

Author: Paul Tunkin

Patrick Roberts signs to Blow Up Songs

We are pleased to announce that Patrick Roberts has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs for the majority of his songs as a member of The Sea Urchins and Delta. This follows closely behind the recent announcement that Patrick’s brother James had signed to Blow Up Songs.

The titles include The Sea Urchins ‘Time Is All I’ve seen’, from the band that launched Sarah Records with the single Pristine Christine. To songs with with Delta, the band that formed in the nineties after the demise of The Sea Urchins, include the songs Beautiful, Elephant Man, Slippin’ Out amongst others, along with co-written songs with James such as Nothing Happened and TV On.

The Guardian described Delta as “Byrdsy harmonies and Pacific Coast flourishes with a very British despondency”. Delta were signed by Mercury Records but the album Hard Light didn’t see the light until it was finally released by indie label Dell’oroso Records.

Delta played several times over the years at the Blow Up club, including the third birthday event in Mayfair (1996). The Blow Up team have been long time fans of the band, a band that looked at one point set for a big breakthrough success. We are very pleased to be working with Patrick along with James and their brilliant collection of songs.

Spatial Awareness signs to Blow Up Songs.

We are pleased to announce that Spatial Awareness has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs.

Spatial Awareness is the artist moniker for Tony Pontius, a live electronic artist, DJ, producer and remixer, taking the slightly more oblique path; part unreconstructed indie kid, part soul enthusiast, part techno fiend, and part disco weirdo. This path has seen Spatial Awareness enthralling dancefloors all over the place – from Spain’s Benicassim Festival and Razzmatazz Club, to underground warehouse parties in LA, to Motion and the Secret Garden Party and the Ministry of Sound in the UK, and many more inbetween.

Tony was blessed with a musically eclectic youth… Raised in the Essex soul music hotspot of Canvey Island with 2 DJs for older brothers, and exposed to their various influences of all things soul, funk, hip hop, emerging house, but also indie and classic pop, young Spatial inevitably became a mobile DJ by the age of 15 – a baptism of fire around the insalubrious establishments of deepest Essex. A progression to clubs soon followed, as well as a growing urge to make music. Stints playing bass in terrible punk bands lead to an interest in engineering and production, and eventually actually creating electronic music.

Acid, disco, techno, and house all blur together sublimely at the edges in the world of Spatial Awareness. His somewhat eclectic tastes encompass a lot of quite disparate things – dub, film soundtracks, electronica, post-punk, motorik rhythms, synthpop, Bowie and Roxy and the Velvets and more besides… Elements of all these seep into the music Spatial Awareness creates and plays.

2021 saw Spatial Awareness join Anja Schneider’s Sous Music label with the EP “The Day That God Went Mad”, and also the HE.SHE.THEY. family with two killer remixes of Cosmic Cat’s “Keep The Body Dancing”. A remix for post-punk indie band Teleforme closed out the year, with 2022 having become even busier – including the release of a 12” of his remixes of Boy George and Marc Almond released in September, and several releases including the popular club track “Diverger”, which prompted this quote from none other than Fatboy Slim“I just love the spatial awareness sound. so much depth, so much space…. so much soul.”

James Roberts signs to Blow Up Songs

We are pleased to announce that James Roberts has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs for the majority of his songs as a member of The Sea Urchins, Delta and as a solo artist.

The titles include The Sea Urchins indie pop classic Pristine Christine. The song that launched Sarah Records and one of the defining tracks of the C86 scene. Also Please Fall The Rain which was made NME Single Of The Week by Bob Stanley (as was ‘Pristine Christine’) on its release.

From James songs with Delta, the band that formed in the nineties after the demise of The Sea Urchins, include Funny Looking Angels taken from the bands third album Hard Light. Funny Looking Angels was later covered by Smith & Burrows (Editors/ Razorlight) for their 2011 for the album of the same name. The Guardian described Delta as “Byrdsy harmonies and Pacific Coast flourishes with a very British despondency”. Delta were signed by Mercury Records but the album Hard Light didn’t see the light until it was finally released by indie label Dell’oroso Records.

In 2006 James released the highly acclaimed a solo album Everything You know Is Right, of which, all titles are published by Blow Up Songs. “An album inspired by the vague concept of creating a “modern day Jimmy Webb album propelled by a 21st century Carpenters” Roberts received his highest accolades to date with many branding the album a masterpiece” (Shindig Magazine).

Delta played several times over the years at the Blow Up club, including the third birthday event in Mayfair (1996). The Blow Up team have been long time fans of the band, a band that looked at one point set for a big breakthrough success. We are very pleased to be working with James and his brilliant collection of songs.

Billy Reeves extends his publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs to include forthcoming debut solo album.

We are pleased to announce that Billy Reeves has extended his worldwide publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs to include the new songs from his debut solo album Nostalgia Of The Future, to be released in 2023 by record label Late Night From Glasgow.

Gavin Fisher co-writer of ‘Enfield Running’ with Billy, has also extended his publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs.

Paul Tunkin of Blow Up Songs steps down from IMPEL board after four years.

After four years as one of the twelve IMPEL Music board members, Paul Tunkin representing IMPEL member Blow Up Songs stepped down from the board and did not stand for re-election along with Ryan Farley MD of Cooking Vinyl Publishing, who had also served on the board for four years. Paul commented that it had been a great honour to be part of the IMPEL team since its inaugural launch as a fully independent organisation in 2018 and that IMPEL continues to build a highly effective digital future for independent music publishers which he is proud to have had a hand in helping to shape. He stated that within the IMPEL membership there is an incredible wealth of expertise, talent with huge amounts of experience to draw from, that will continue to guide the organisation onwards and upwards. Paul will be continue to support IMPEL on various committees as a member representing Blow Up Songs. The two new board members were confirmed as Takuya Yamazaki, General Counsel of NexTone and Michael Hatjoulis, Head of Publishing at Manners McDade.

Big Boss Man 'Sea Groove' used in new Netflix film I Used To Be Famous.

Sea Groove by Big Boss Man has been used in the new Netflix film I Used To Be Famous directed by Eddie Sternberg. It is streaming from today after its cinema launch a week ago. Sea Groove is taken from the debut album by Big Boss Man ‘Humanize’ on Blow Up Records. The song was written by Nasser Bouzida, Scott Milsom and Trevor Harding and is published by Blow Up Songs.

https://youtu.be/S7zP4ccVxYY

Blow Up Songs confirms four songs feature in new film The Allnighter, world premier screening at Cinequest 21st August.

Blow Up Songs is pleased to confirm that we have four songs that feature in the forthcoming new film The Allnighter, directed by Aimee Graham. The Allnighter will receive its world premier at this years Cinequest in San Francisco (Aug 21st-24th).

The songs included in the film are:

SEA GROOVE” Written by Nasser Bouzida, Trevor Harding, Scott Milsom. Published by Blow Up Songs Ltd. Performed by Big Boss Man (Blow Up Records)

“THE ALARM GOES OFF,YOU GET UP, YOU GET BY” Written by Ali Heath, Published by Blow Up Songs Limited. Performed by Ali Heath (Blow Up Records)                                  

ALL I HAVE IS YOURS (INCLUDING YOU) ”Written by Erik Stein and Jon Boux, Published by Blow Up Songs Limited. Performed by Cult With No Name (CWNN Records)

MAINS TO GO” Written by Justin Anderson, Adam Ficek, Lester Jones, Paul Harrison and David Rabjohns. Published by Blow Up Songs Limited. Performed by Mains Ignition (Tummy Touch Records).

The film stars Owen Beckman, Gretchen Lodge, Sylva Kelegian, David Koechner, Tiny Lister, James Russo, Alexandra Kenworthy, Jilon VanOve.

Cinequest link: https://tickets.cinequest.org/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=216999~a12ee803-7eae-437e-8208-1c4d52da2020&epguid=330ab4d6-45cd-4e3a-a87e-02c739b12dbb&

Big Boss Man new singles announced by Blow Up Records

As announced today by Blow Up Records, Big Boss Man are to release two vinyl 7″ singles. Comprising of all new instrumental tracks that are slices of pure killer dance floor funk. All tracks written by founding members of the band, Nasser Bouzida and Trevor Harding and published by Blow Up Songs.

Pre-order the two 45’s in the following formats: Vinyl 7″ (limited edition 500 each single) shipping direct from the Blow Up Greedbag shop (shipping 23/09/22)
https://secure.greedbag.com/put/org/~f92a7bfb-b2c7-4238-8f97-6e0363c32398/productlines/item/~big-boss-man-2022-2x/

The two singles are as follows:
Cat number BU131
A Side – Juju Funk (Bouzida / Harding)
B-Side – Return Of Baron Samedi (Bouzida)

Cat number BU132
A Side – Double Groovy (Bouzida, Harding)
B Side – Trans-Pacific Express (Bouzida)

The four tracks that form the A and B sides will be released digitally, one track a month. starting with Return Of Baron Samedi on all digital services 15/07/22

Vanessa Anne Redd signs to Blow Up Songs

We are pleased to announce that Vanessa Anne Redd has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs for the representation of her songs that includes all the titles for her recent solo albums alongside co-written songs for Rubicks and Six Years.

Vanessa Anne Redd is a London based British / German singer-songwriter. She released her third solo Vanessa Anne Redd record “Sweet Way Around” in 2021, following on from her critically acclaimed solo debut “Behind the Wall” and “Zumbo Waxes”. VAR makes raw alternative folk-rock, sweeping melodies mixing cathartic darkness and light. Her solo work is inspired by artists such as Syd Barrett, Holly Go-Lightly, Nico, Elliot Smith, Leonard Cohen, Billy Childish and Angel Olson. 

She’s received support from BBC Radio’s Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne, Janice Long and Radio X’s John Kennedy, along with a coveted Album of the Month recommendation by UK music magazine Loud & Quiet, and praise by magazines such as UNCUT, RnR and Clash Magazine

 She has previously released albums as part of electronic act Rubicks, and alt-folk duo Six Years, has toured the UK, Europe, Canada and the USA with the likes of Gary Numan and John Foxx and played SXSW and Canadian Music Week. 

Her music has been released through her co-owned label Sharp Attack Records and licensed to Universal, Mute, Modular DJ’s and Rough Trade compilations. It has appeared in fashion films (Valentino/Pam Hogg) and skate/snowboarding videos. 

Vanessa co-runs her own label Sharp Attack Records with long time collaborator Marc Makarov with whom she has been working co-producing acts on their label (Phoebe Coco/The Durrell Family). She also makes her own films and videos to accompany her own music. 

Phoebe Coco signs to Blow Up Songs

We are pleased to announce that Phoebe Coco has signed a publishing agreement with Blow Up Songs for the worldwide representation for the compositions of her debut album ‘My White Horse and I’.

Phoebe Coco is a London based British singer songwriter. With ‘My White Horse and I‘ (Sharp Attack Records) she invites you to step inside a unique world of sound and music, songs with lilting lyrics and mesmerising hooks; a whirlpool of voice, piano and electronica- ‘Somewhere between Electro-pop and whimsical alternative folk’ (Beatnik)

‘Phoebe Coco has just the thing’
Tom Robinson- BBC 6 Music
A sense of being slightly unsettled but utterly intoxicated at the same time, excited with a
certain amount of trepidation & everything is a bit mysterious’ ‘Effortlessly compelling’.
Adam Watson BBC Introducing Wales
Beautiful young artist
David Preshaah Hoxton Radio
‘This is lovely – the laconic vocal puts me in mind of Anna Calvi in places, in others Oh Land.
Feels like a dark fairytale…’
Sarah Gosling

https://youtu.be/tIiulrsy-xM?list=PLRIBDiSBInE4426GN57kcrXI2HYrL5AEo

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