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TAPCO Music Sampler CD
Celebrating long (sometimes frustrating) hours of garage rehearsals, dive bar gigs, basement music production and creative penny-pinching for used gear, TAPCO recently released Volume One of the TAPCO Music Sampler CD featuring some of today's best independent musical artists around the world. While we received literally hundreds of submissions, we were only able to select 14 artists for the first volume. Below is a little something about them. Be sure to stay tuned for details on Volume Two.
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Fallen Angel - GIFTIG
 Germany's GIFTIG brings a unique mix of hard tuned down guitars & airplay-ready songs to the listening audience, featuring Karina´s sweet melodic lead vocals along with Dirk (vocals and guitar), Matzo (vocal and bass), and Paul (drums and loops). Prior to joining Giftig, bass player and screaming vocalist Matzo was cast in a very popular daily German soap opera. Currently, GIFTIG is producing an album with top German producer Wolfgang Stach (Guano Apes, Die Happy, Such a Surge, Ferric MC). During the past four years, GIFTIG has won or been in the finals of several German music contests, including SWR 3 (one of the biggest radio stations in Germany) and PopAkademie.
Visit this artist's website: www.giftig.org
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Awake & Alive - Piedmont
Formed in a little town nestled between the Olympic
and Cascade Mountains known as Seattle, Piedmont
once packed electric guitar-driven and folk rock
songwriting into a debut EP, Progressions,
that garnered the attention of many in late 2003.
Since then, between endless commercial and non-commercial
radio play, playing packed shows whenever possible,
and paying particular attention to direct feedback
from guitar legend Carlos Santana over Progressions,
Piedmont is just now stepping up with production
of their first full-length effort, Stonefield,
which will release later this year. "Awake
& Alive" is the first of 11 new songs
from the band previewing what's to be expected
of the upcoming release. And most importantly,
it rocks like Carlos likes.
Visit
this artist's website: www.piedmontmusic.com
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The Beach - Mercir
 Mercir
(mer'-ser), the Seattle-based trio – armed with
acoustic guitars, synthesizers, turntables and
samples – consists of vocalist/guitarist Zadok,
turntablist and samples guru Colin Johnson, and
keyboardist Joel Eby. As incidental witnesses
to the Seattle scene, Mercir inevitably employs
the honesty and ache you would expect, but the
delivery is quite far from the garage. Songs range
from creaking acoustic ballads to soaring atmospheric
pieces suitable for film. The band's debut EP,
Prologue, has performed well across the
West Coast's college radio circuit, including
Seattle's KEXP, charting Top 20 in multiple markets.
Their full-length independent release, "As
Small as the Center", debuted in September
2004.
Visit this artist's website: www.mercir.com
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Such A Bother - Mindhead
 With electric and acoustic guitars, Fender Rhodes, Mototron (an original invention), drums, bass, and a few gadgets and tricks, Mindhead spreads out a rolling, twisting soundscape that ranges from upbeat pop-rock to slowly-building epics of beauty and tension. From poignant, string-laden ballads to dark, intense rock, their accessible songs appeal to a wide variety of music fans.
Visit this artist's website: www.mindheadmusic.com
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Ballad - Phase 9
 Phase 9 consists of Kenny Truhn, Anthony Natoli, John Secolo, Nick Carbone, and Lauren Sauer. The band came together in the fall of 2004 and is a fresh new blend of sounds. The band formed after the breakup of the band First Stage that consisted of Truhn, Secolo, and Carbone. At the time of the band's breakup, Secolo and good friend Anthony Natoli got together and began writing some fresh material. Carbone, who had left for Berklee College, began helping in writing throughout the following months. That November, Truhn and Sauer both came on board completing the band and bringing a new and vital aspect to the sound.
Visit this artist's website: www.phase9band.com
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Black Two - Red Slopes
 Red
Slopes originally formed in 2001, and by the end
of 2002, they dedicated themselves on writing
and producing new songs. In late 2003, with a
new set Red Slopes began gigging regularly in
the Cavern, the Zanzibar and the Barfly Liverpool.
With money made from the recorded live shows,
Red Slopes recorded their second demo CD, where
"Black Two" is from. This latest demo
has created interest from major and indie labels
and publishers. Red Slopes frequently is in the
top five downloads on www.download.com.
Red Slopes consists of Owen Lennon (guitar, synth),
Phil Kieran (drums), Kev Hall (guitar, vocals,
synth), Paul Brown (bass, vocals), and Craig Jamieson
(guitar, vocals, synth).
Visit this artist's website: www.freewebs.com/redslopes/index.htm
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BONUS TRACK
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A
Native of Washington, D.C., U-P (Urban Product)
began writing rhymes at the age of 11. While earning
his Bachelor of Science degree at Grambling State
University, he organized U-P Dynasty and worked
on projects with Chuck Young (background singer
on multi-platinum song X-Factor by Lauryn Hill),
Maurice (City High), Michelle N'degechello's brother,
and appeared on the Gold selling "Love Don't Love
You No More" by Keisha. U-P is currently the guiding
force behind Stonehenge Studio and is collaborating
with Cash Money's Millionaire Turk, Mood Swing
Productions Gary "Giz" Smith and Trishell "Ms.
Tee" Williams (formerly of Cash Money Records)
on their latest projects as well as producing
Red Dawn's debut album Rottweiler. 
Peter
Bavaro is a New York artist with a wide variety
of songwriting and performance credits. He's been
a member of popular NYC bands including Serious
Pilgrim and is currently recording nine original
songs for the musical production of "Back
to the Trees". Additionally, Peter has produced
audio and video post for many projects including
over 100 anime titles, promotional spots and assorted
films. The track "Big Bang" was produced
with Rob Stevens.
Momma
is comprised of bassist/vocalist Jack Reynolds,
guitarist/vocalist Charlie McRee and drummer/screamer
Brian 'Nucci" Cantrell. In the early days,
Jack and Charlie met in Ketchikan, Alaska in 1991
and shared an enthusiasm for sounds that spanned
from the then vibrant Seattle scene back through
new wave pop of the '80s, further back to heavy
'70s rock and further still to '60s pop. Their
own sound is a blend of these eras with an emphasis
on catchy hooks and memorable melodies. After
moving to San Diego year later, they joined forces
with Brian and formed a powerful trio to travel
fast and light and leave audiences humming the
choruses in their wake. Momma's first album, currently
in production, will be out early this summer.
The AkwilA project was launched in 2002 by Toronto-based
producer Alex Bilak. The first single, "Tell Me",
featuring the vocals of Franca Ferlisi is a highly
energetic track with a pumping bassline and pounding
rhythm immersed with angelic vocals. AkwilA's
unique euphoric style blends a hint of trance
with infectious house beats and hard techno synths.
Coco
Love Alcorn has been an active force on the Canadian
music scene for more than a decade as a critically
acclaimed vocalist and songwriter. Since the 1995
release of Coco Love Alcorn, her self-titled
debut CD (produced by Juno award winner Rick Kilburn),
she has appeared regularly on concert stages and
in nightclubs across Canada and the USA including
Lilith Fair and The Stardust Picnic, and opening
for artists such as Ani Difranco, Burton Cummings,
Chantal Kreviazuk, Jesse Cooke, and 54.40. Coco
is also currently in a couple of side projects,
Paloma and Joystick.
Diggsville formed while contributing to the soundtrack of the independent film, "In the Wake" by Erica Jordan. After cruising the festival circuit, percussionist Randy Odell and vocalist Karen Mitchell enlisted the piano skills of David von Holder. His rich synth textures and poignant melodic sensibilities provided the perfect complement to Randy's timely grooves, both coming from a strong jazz and R&B background. Bassist David Hermocillo's ability to drive it to the ground and Jody Ono provides saxophones and EWI (electric wind instrument) synth layers for Diggsville's infectious mix that includes elements of trip-hop, electronica, Latin funk and jazz.
In
2004, Die Symphony released their much anticipated
third album, The Everlasting Shame. Featuring
eleven tracks that combine hard-hitting rock grooves
with melodic pop-like sensibility, The Everlasting
Shame blurs the line between genres with
a sound insured to broaden Die Symphony's ever-growing
fan base. Since its release, the track "Runaway"
has received airplay on alternative and rock radio
stations throughout the Midwest United States.
J
Minus is the brainchild of one man and his home
studio: Dylan Fant and One Shot Studio in Woodinville,
Washington. But it's nothing like you would expect
from the typical one-man-and-his-home-studio deal
— though Dylan does still write, play, and
record all the band's songs. With help from Trevor
Wheetman as the voice to Dylan's lyrics, the pair
stumbled into a combination that turned a would-be
side project into a much sought after and relevant
band... in large part because today J Minus is
a newly formed and fully functional 5-piece rock
ensemble. The music of J Minus is everything from
energized optimistic rock to sweet and poignant
ballads, and "Seven" is a glimpse into
what you can expect from the band's first official
release, Sun and Moon, due out later
this year. 
Kaukasian, born Zane Grey Tobin, grew up in the San Fernando Valley, CA. He got his first drum set when he was five and it’s been all about the music ever since, tracking and performing his own music for years. His influences range from Pink Floyd to N.W.A, from Classical to Nirvana. Kaukasian has sold quite a few units with only modest radio play in California and Nevada while relying largely on word-of-mouth marketing.