Famous In Sweden

Im from sweden and the magasine is where I found out about you. Great project and great updates

Here's a translation for you. Warning - I was reading the article and simultaneously translating without reference to a dictionary, so the wording might be a little odd. And then there are my typing mistakes

A music shop became their studio

Georgia Wonder is gladly leaving the well marked road. In the beginning of 2009 their EP was amongst the most shared free music on Pirate bay. Now they are working on a complete album - that they are recording in a music shop.

When the Georgia Wonder duo was finished with their second EP, Destroy, they wanted to do a full album - something big, well funded and with lots of help. The problem was that they didn't have any money. The band had no record company behind them and the equipment in their home studio had hit its limits.

When they were in the local music shop Nevada to buy some strings, they suddenly got an idea. In the shop they could see all the equipment they needed. Maybe they could record their album there?

After some thought they sent an e-mail to the shop and laid out their idea and much to their surprise the owner, Mike Devereux said yes immedidately.

Georgia Wonder is an up-and-coming band. Nevada Music saw that. We have a history of going with unique and interesting things, says Julian Moore, who plays many instrumanes in the band.

The deal is simple. The band comes and goes for six months and uses all the equipment they need in the shop. After 6 months the album needs to be finished.

We thought that the time limit would be enough to put together enough songs, but we can't spend all our time in the shop. We've just seriously begun but plan to be there twice a week at least. We're still working out the best times to be there, says Julian.

We use a Macbook Pro with Logic, and Allan & Heath were kind enough to loan us a usb-mixer. So we can wander around the shop recording guitars, synthesizers and drum machines. We feel like kids in a candy shop.

To record Stephanies song requires, onthe other hand, complete silence and concentration, so we record those at home. The project solves many problems for the band. They avoid having to pay for studio time. But it's also a great way to market the album.

- That we record the album like this is a story that plays out over six months. It's our local music shop, it's local news, and we work with local people - everyone wants to help. But the story has also become global. Most of all we would like the idea to become a trend. Julian thinks that shops and manufacturers have a lot to gain by helping out with sponsorships and instruments even with smaller bands.

Instrument makers need to have a farsighted view of the value of sponsorships. The first thing that bands to with their advance from record companies is to buy equipment. If the manufacturers were more on the ball and engaged themselves early in the process with the bands everyone would win, including them. There are fewer & smaller advances, but the equipment manufacturers can step up and help out.

For others that want to try to do something similar with local shops, Julian things that the idea should be to make it as simple as possible for the shop - It's not every band that could pull something like this off and not every shop can support a project like this in this way. You need to suggest a project where everyone wins and where it doesn't cost anyone very much money. If you promise to keep out of the way and can demonstrate that you have the means to market the idea without the shop needing to do too much, then there is a good chance that they'll say yes. The last thing a shop wants to do is micromanage your project.

The most important thing to do is to begin with what you have, and not find a bunch of excuses.
- We began with an achievable goal that was just a bit out of our reach. Forget dreaming about all the wonderful things you could do if only you moved out of the country or had a million euros to work with. The people who have all it takes to help you are probably just around the corner. And now you can spread your story on the internet from your bedroom. All you need is the story!

The music store became their studio

Georgia Wonder will happily leave the marked road. Their ep was among the most file shared free music on the Pirate Bay in the beginning of 2009. Now they're working on a full-length album -- being recorded in the local music store.

When the duo Georgia Wonder was done with their second ep Destroy, they wanted to make a full-length album -- something grand, well made and expensive. The problem was a lack of money. The band had no record label backing them and the home studio equipment was starting to feel limited.
While in the local music store Nevada Music, where they were going to buy new strings, an idea suddenly struck them. Couldn't they record the album... there?
After some more consideration, they sent an email to the store and tol dthem about the idea -- and to their great surprise the owner Mike Devereaux said yes right away.
- Georgia Wonder is a very enterprising band. Nevada Music saw that. We have a history of doing strange and interesting things, says Julian Moore, who plays several instruments in the band.
The deal is simple. The band can come and go during six months' time, and use all the equipment in the store. Then the album must be done.
- We thought the time frame would give us enough time to create enough songs, but we don't have the opportunity to spend all our time in the store. We have just started in earnest, but plan on going there at least twice a week. We are still learning what times are best suited for us to be there, says Julian.
- We use a Macbook Pro with Logic, and Allen & Hearth were kind enough to lend us a USB mixer. So we will walk around in the store and record guitars, synths and drum machines. We feel like kids in a candy store!
Recording Stephanies singing requires total silence and concentration however, so they will be recording that at home. The project solves a number of problems for the band. They don't need to pay for studio time. But it is also an excellent way to market the album.
- That we record the album like this is a story that spans six months. It is our local music store, it is local news and we work with the locals - so everyone wants to help. But now the story has become global.
Most of all he would like to see the idea becoming a trend. He thinks that stores and manufacturers would have much to gain from providing sponsoring and instruments even to small bands.
- Instrument manufacturers need a long term view on the value of sponsoring. The first thing a band does with an advance payment from a record label is to spend the money on stuff. If the manufacturers were more alert and engaged early with the bands they would make everyone a favour, including themselves. Advances sink, but there is plenty of space to fill that void.
For the one who would like to try something similar with their local music store, Julian believes that it is all about making the project as easy as possible for the store.
_ Not all bands would get away with this, and not all stores would support bands in this way either. You need to pitch an idea that both have something to gain from and that requires very few expenses. If you promise to stay out of way and can prove that you have the ability to market the idea without the store doing much there is a good chance they will say yes. The last thing the store will want to do is to control your daily work in detail.
The most important thing is to begin with what you have at hand and not make up a lot of excuses.
- We started with a goal within reach just outside our doorstep. Stop dreaming about being able to do this and that if you only moved abroad, or had a million euros. The people who have the most will to help you are probably just around the corner. And now you can also feed out your story from your bed room. The only thing you need is the story itself!