WHEELS 2.0: GOING BACK TO CALI

By Jesse Beer-Dietz

Very cool Wheels this week, if I do say so myself. We're featuring one artist who used a revolutionary technology to create his music video, and an unsigned band that snagged a whopper of a radio add.. Keep feedin’ the inbox: [email protected]

SPOTLIGHT
Andy Grammer (www.myspace.com/andygrammer) is an L.A.-based writer/artist signed to S-Curve whose “interactive” music video for the song “Keep Your Head Up” has created quite the buzz. Andy isn’t all tricks and gimmicks, though—there’s something wonderfully original about him. This up-and-comer’s music is one part John Legend, one part Maroon 5, with a splash of Lauryn Hill, if you can imagine such a combo. His debut EP is set for release in early 2011, and we expect big things for this rising star. As for the video, it uses a new technology that allows the user to pick the storyline in real time, allowing for multiple outcomes. Imagine those books we used to all read as kids that allowed you to choose the path of your character, only this is digital and uses real-life characters. This technology and its conceptual use in "Keep Your Head Up" could very well revolutionize the way people make videos in the future. Check out the video, which includes a cameo by Andy’s pal Rainn Wilson, right here, and let us know your thoughts.

Dead Country (www.myspace.com/deadcountryla): Lots of industry anticipation in the air on this one. Newly recorded tracks from the Silverlake rockers are reportedly perking the ears of several label execs who have been watching the band closely since their single "Euro Thrash" was added to PoMo powerhouse KROQ a few months ago—a major coup for any unsigned act. The KROQ endorsement prompted spins at several other Alt radio outlets, priming the pump for a serious radio campaign once a proper label affiliation is in place. The new tunes were produced by longtime Foo Fighters engineer John "Lou" Lousteau and mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, Cobra Starship). Check out "Carolina" (streaming on the band’s MySpace page), earmarked as the follow-up single to “Euro Thrash.” Obviously, things are heating up, and these guys won’t be unsigned much longer. Contact [email protected] or [email protected].