Hey, look! It’s the cover for the new album from Wordburglar. 3rdburglar drops May 15, 2012.
April 20th, 2012
WORDBURGLAR – 3rdburglar album cover
April 16th, 2012
HEATWAVE REMIX CONTEST – Announcing #4:
As promised, at #4, another remix that shows the diversity of what can be done to “Heatwave”. Props to Polish producer slawomirus, now known as NOAN, for the awesome dubstep remix.
“Heatwave (slawomirus aka NOAN Remix)”
Remixed by slawomirus aka NOAN
Check back on Monday, April 23 for another take on “Heatwave” as we the #3 remix is revealed…
April 9th, 2012
HEATWAVE REMIX CONTEST – Clocking in at #5 is…
It was a long process; a hard fought battle that resulted in some close calls. But the judges have sent in their votes, and those votes have been tallied. Finally, we have a top 5 – or rather, six! At #5, we have a tie between two rather different remixes, presented here alphabetically:
“Heatwave (Beaker’s Club Mix)”
Remixed by Beaker
“Heatwave (Solex Remix)”
Remixed by Solex
Congratulations to our producers, Beaker and Solex, and thank you to both for two great contributions with which to open the announcements.
Check back on Monday, April 16 for another diverse take on “Heatwave” as we unveil the #4 remix…
April 4th, 2012
New Wordburglar video: “Rhyme O’Clock”
The video for the first single from Wordburglar’s highly anticipated 3rdburglar LP is now on YouTube and about to go into light rotation on MuchMusic… It’s fuckin’ awesome!
“Rhyme O’Clock”
Written and performed by Wordburglar & More Or Les
Produced by Fresh Kils
Cuts by Uncle Fes
Download the single from iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/rhyme-oclock-maxi-single-ep/id510434414
3rdburglar drops May 2012. The release party is happening in Toronto at El Mocambo on May 11, 2012 for only $10. Features additional performances from Ghettosocks, More Or Les, Timbuktu & Choke and Dream Jefferson.
Check Facebook for more info: http://www.facebook.com/events/407135389298008/
For those in the Halifax area, Wordburglar will be launching his CD with an in-store performance at Taz Records (1593 Market St) on April 27.
April 2nd, 2012
The producers of our 12 favourite remixes (in alphabetical order):
Heatwave Remixes: The Shortlist of 12
First, I want to apologize to the producers who submitted remixes and to the fans waiting to hear the results. The delay was unfortunate but unavoidable.
Secondly, I would like to to thank the producers who took the time to remix “Heatwave” and submit the end product. We received 33 remixes that played for a total of more than two hours, and there was a surprising variety of choices in some of the selections. We had a lot of fun listening to the submissions, and we hope the producers enjoyed remixing “Heatwave” and that everyone will enjoy listening to the winners (and you can find more info on when to expect that audio enjoyment below).
Anyway, the judges have now had enough time to properly digest the many remixes and we have narrowed the submissions down to a shortlist of our 12 favourite remixes.
The producers of our 12 favourite remixes (in alphabetical order):
DJ A.M.
Beaker
The Dirty Sample
Dynamo 414
Hotbox
Krillpoacher
Philosofly
Recordface
Slawomirus
Solex
Untested Methods
DJ Usdneedlz
Congratulations to each of our shortlisted semi-finalists. We had a lot of good options to chose from, but ultimately each of these remixes received at least 50% of the judging committee’s vote count, with each judge limited to no more than 10 votes.
The weekly countdown to the #1 remix, which will also appear on the vinyl EP, begins next Monday (April 9) with the announcement of our #5 choice, audio included.
In the meantime, enjoy this mashup that we DID NOT receive as a submission but it’s still pretty damn awesome. “Beachwave” by Teletran:
March 7th, 2012
PLEASE EXCUSE THE MESS!
We are undergoing some upgrades and updates at HandSoloRecords.com, which has changed some of the formatting and eliminated some photos. Please bare with us during this time of renovation…
Thanks.
The Management
January 16th, 2012
“Heatwave” video out now + Remixing & Releasing!
The big day has finally come! The “Heatwave” video was released on YouTube today, so sit back, relax, and watch (at 720p for best viewing, apparently):
With the video unveiled, everyone in Backburner and at Hand’Solo Records is so excited we’ve decided to celebrate with two additional activities that should hopefully help you become more involved in our excitement:
1. “Heatwave” remix contest.
We’ve decided to produced a collector’s edition vinyl EP of favourites from the album, and we’ll definitely need a remix of “Heatwave” to make the EP that much more special. While the 19-man crew kept everything in-house for the album, everyone is in agreement that it will be more interesting to see what an outside ear brings to this very distinct song. Prospective producers should feel free to experiment. This is YOUR remix. The winner will have their remix released on the vinyl EP as well as receive five copies of the EP. The four runner-up remixes will be featured on HandSoloRecords.com and Backburner.ca leading up to the release of the vinyl Heatwave EP. All submissions must be received by February 29, 2012 and sent to remix@handsolorecords.com.
For further details or to DOWNLOAD THE HEATWAVE REMIX PACK ZIP go to: http://handsolorecords.com/brainonsunrays/
2. “Heatwave” video release party.
Here is all the info you need:
$5 RAP SHOW presents Double Video Release for…
Backburner’s “Heatwave” & Wordburglar’s “Rhyme O’Clock”
with live performances from:
MORE OR LES, WORDBURGLAR, TIMBUKTU, CHOKEULES, THESIS SAHIB, FRESH KILS & MISTER E
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 @ Rancho Relaxo, 300 College St., Toronto
Doors Open @ 9pm
Only $5!
19+
Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/115866101867243/?ref=ts
January 11th, 2012
1. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
2. Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
3. AbSUrd – Close To Distantly
4. Sole – mansbestfriend Vol. 5
5. Backburner – Heatwave
6. Beans – End It All
7. Monsieur Sai – Soigne Tes Blessures
8. Deadverse Massive – TakeOver
9. The Roots – Undun
10. Murmur Breeze – Foreshore Reverie
11. Subtitle – s.h.a.r.k. BRIEF
More ‘Year End List’ Action for Heatwave & Hand’Solo
Damn! They’ve done it again! Before the year ended, IndieRockMag.com listed Backburner’s “Lifers” as one of their favourite songs of 2011, and early into the new year they followed up with an article listing Hand’Solo Records as one of 12 labels to watch in 2012 (see recent previous posts for the nitty gritty on all of that). Now, they present their Top 11 Albums of 2011, and Backburner’s Heatwave album has made it all the way up to the number 5 spot. Included is a list of further recommendations, and both Toolshed’s The Lost and Angerville’s Warfare make the cut. And as a special bonus, Hand’Solo Records is listed among the Top 5 Labels of 2011. Congrats to the cats in Backburner, and thanks to IndieRockMag.com for once again honouring the label and the ‘Burner.
For your curiosity, here are the Top 11 Albums for 2011 (according to IndieRockMag.com):
2. Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
3. AbSUrd – Close To Distantly
4. Sole – mansbestfriend Vol. 5
5. Backburner – Heatwave
6. Beans – End It All
7. Monsieur Sai – Soigne Tes Blessures
8. Deadverse Massive – TakeOver
9. The Roots – Undun
10. Murmur Breeze – Foreshore Reverie
11. Subtitle – s.h.a.r.k. BRIEF
See the rest of their recommendations, read the review of each album, or just check the rest of the year end lists at: http://www.indierockmag.com/article17168.html
January 9th, 2012
Hand’Solo Records: One of 12 Labels to Watch in 2012!
Shortly after listing “Lifers” from Backburner’s Heatwave album as one of their recommended songs of the year, Hand’Solo Records is honoured to have been selected by IndieRockMag.com as one of 12 labels to watch for 2012. You guys rock! The article is in french only, but the accompanying interview with Hand’Solo label head Thomas Quinlan (in other words, me) is provided in both english and french. Thank you IndieRockMag.com for your interest in Hand’Solo Records and in what I had to say. And thanks for selecting us.
As always, just a taste:
IndieRockMag.com: Which artist from the label impressed you most in 2011 and why?
TQ: Perhaps this is cheating, but I’m going to have to say Backburner has impressed me the most in 2011. Individually the core members of Backburner have been having a phenomenal couple of years with the consistent release of one awesome album after another, each artist on their own style, but this year it’s gone into overdrive, culminating in the release of their first real crew album at the end of the summer. Heatwave has been on the Canadian College hip hop top ten for 9 weeks running and has been critically well-received. The video for the first single, and title track, will drop before the end of the year, and is sure to warm up the winter. It’s easy for me to say Backburner is the most diverse, best crew in Canada right now, hands down. And props to Ghettosocks and Timbuktu for doing the very difficult and booking themselves a sweet cross-Canada tour.
Read the rest of the interview (and article if you can handle the french) at: http://www.indierockmag.com/article17037.html
December 31st, 2011
&
20. Independents – Adam WarRock & Mikal kHill ft. Tribe One
19. Comix Zone Live! – Action Adventure World
18. Jean Luc – Danimal Cannon
17. Bad Azz – PrototypeRaptor
16. Feeling Good – Videogame Orchestra
15. Ninja Haters – Captain Dan & The Scurvy Crew
14. Kraid’s Campfire Ballad – Sebastian Martensson ft. Kristin Bjorkeback
13. Heatwave – Backburner (click here to read the review)
12. Vantam – minibosses
11. Children of Africa – Symphony of Science
10. ChronoStep Suite No. 3 – WubWater Palace – DJ RoboRob
9. Still More Fighting – Random Encounter
8. Space Warrior Sound Machine – The OneUps
7. Party in the C.I.A. – “Weird Al” Yankovic
6. Nerdcore Now – Beefy
5. Love My Little Squiddy – Marc with a C
4. Ska Buffet – The OverClocked Plain Muffins
3. Tell Me Something – Adam WarRock
2. KABOOM! – I Fight Dragons
1. Cry of the Planet – Random (aka MegaRan)
Heatwave makes many Best of Year lists for 2011…
What better day than the last day of the year to brag about the year end lists that have included Backburner’s Heatwave:
France’s IndieRockMag.com has included “Lifers” in their list of 47 recommended tracks for the year, saying of the song: “Une chanson pour faire chauffer l’autoradio sous les sunlights”
Hear the song:
See the rest of the list here: http://www.indierockmag.com/article16855.html
And let’s not forget…
Our good friend John “Hex” Carter of The Nerdy Show has placed “Heatwave” on his list of Top 20 tracks of 2011.
Here’s the full list in true David Letterman Countdown style:
19. Comix Zone Live! – Action Adventure World
18. Jean Luc – Danimal Cannon
17. Bad Azz – PrototypeRaptor
16. Feeling Good – Videogame Orchestra
15. Ninja Haters – Captain Dan & The Scurvy Crew
14. Kraid’s Campfire Ballad – Sebastian Martensson ft. Kristin Bjorkeback
13. Heatwave – Backburner (click here to read the review)
12. Vantam – minibosses
11. Children of Africa – Symphony of Science
10. ChronoStep Suite No. 3 – WubWater Palace – DJ RoboRob
9. Still More Fighting – Random Encounter
8. Space Warrior Sound Machine – The OneUps
7. Party in the C.I.A. – “Weird Al” Yankovic
6. Nerdcore Now – Beefy
5. Love My Little Squiddy – Marc with a C
4. Ska Buffet – The OverClocked Plain Muffins
3. Tell Me Something – Adam WarRock
2. KABOOM! – I Fight Dragons
1. Cry of the Planet – Random (aka MegaRan)
Here’s the song:
Check Hex’s blog The Hex Dump at http://hexwarrior.tumblr.com/ and the Nerdy Show podcast site at http://nerdyshow.com/. Lots of different ways to waste away your days between those two sites…