Phonocratic Records

Phonocratic Records and Lost Shadow are happy to announce the start of another remix contest starting today! We believe that this will one of the big Lost Shadow events of the year, and hope that as many of you as possible will participate.

The mission:
Remix one of the songs from the recent Quandaries and Panaceas album. You may choose any of the songs and do a remix in any style. You can find the original album here:
Spotify: [Long] [Short]
Deezer: [Long] [Short]
iTunes: [Long] [Short]
Amazon MP3: [Long] [Short]
CDON: [Long] [Short]
7digital: [Long] [Short]
Bandcamp: [Long] [Short]

The deadline:
We need your remix by the 15th of August 2011.

The prizes:

• A number of winners (dependent on the number of remixes we like) will be included on the Lost Shadow remix album released this autumn. It may be one, it may be five, maybe even more. The album will be released on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and other music services.
• One remix will be chosen to be the lead track on the single preceding and promoting the remix album.
• One remixer will be rewarded $25, which will be payed out via Paypal.
• Some remixes might be considered for a forthcoming Lost Shadow compilation.

The rules:

1. Download the remix pack(s) of your choice (see the bottom of this post). Each remix pack contains a MIDI-file, and a number of audio files (vocals, guitar solos etc.).
2. Create your remix, using your favourite tools.
3. If you would like to obtain a particular audio sample, chords or something else, feel free to mail us at phonocratic (at sign) gmail (dot) com, and we’ll send you what you need (given that we can provide it).
4. Send you creation to: phonocratic (at sign) gmail (dot) com
5. We prefer that you send you file via some kind of sharing service, in as high quality as possible (maximum quality should be CD-quality: 44.1 kHz, Stereo, 16 bit). Any normally used format is okay, but AIFF, WAV, or FLAC is preferred. If you send the file attached to an e-mail, be sure to compress the file to be no larger than 10 MB, and we will get back to you so we can agree on how to send an uncompressed version of the remix.
6. In your mail, please state how you want to be credited in the liner notes, your complete name and artist name, the complete name of the remix, and whether you’d like to be considered for being selected for the promotional single.
7. If you want to be included on the single, you must prepare a radio version of your remix (3-4 minutes long), which we will ask for if you are selected. In addition, we need your remix by the first of August to have it included on the single.
8. You may send in any number of remixes, of any number of the songs from Quandaries and Panaceas.

Remix packs

1. Once you actually understand something you cannot deunderstand it
2. The problem with democracy
3. And all the time it’s a changing
4. One man a car
5. The last love affair
6. Wheels
7. The turning point
8. There
9. Returning to the Crystal Garden
10. Into the forest
11. The blind watchmaker
12. The last song we will sing

Note that the remix packs for track 1 and 2 are the same.

Additional terms and conditions:

- By sending in the remix to Phonocratic Records, you agree to give us non-exclusive rights to distribute and sell your remix, worldwide. These rights cannot be taken back without renegotiating these terms with Phonocratic Records.
- The remixer(s) will not receive any payments or compensation for sales through Phonocratic Records related to their remixes, except for the eventual prize of the remix contest.
- All rights for the original songs, and the vocal samples remain the property of Phonocratic Records and/or Johan Bengtsson. You will not get the right to sell or redistribute the original songs or the vocal samples.
- The remixer(s) retain the rights to distribute their own remix of the song. When the remix is distributed, credit for song writing, recording, and original production must be given as stated by Phonocratic Records.
- Given that all the requirements above are fulfilled, Phonocratic Records and/or Johan Bengtsson will not ask for compensation for earnings made by the remixer(s) for the remixes submitted for this contest.

Time to break the long silence… I spent last Friday in the studio, which was the longest continuous time I have spent in the studio in months. And productivity was all over! A new EP has been recorded, which will soon see the light of day. More details to follow during next week. Stay tuned!

I would like to wish everybody who have been following, listening and supporting Lost Shadow and my music during the passed year a very happy new year!

I have spent the first day of the new year finishing a remix of Full-Source’s song Island of the Sun. This was a nice break from the work with my latest record Quandaries and Panaceas, which was released in November. During January, I will work on my next release, which will be an EP based around one of the songs on the recently released album.

Once again, happy new year! I think 2011 will bring lots of great music and fun stuff!

I am happy to announce that Quandaries and Panaceas has found its way into Spotify since a couple of days ago. In addition, we also have released the physical packages of the album through the Bandcamp store. The CDs will cost €20 plus shipping, regardless of whether you order the long or the short version. We have also reactivated the ordering of the older Lost Shadow albums from the Bandcamp store. Quandaries and Panaceas can now be found online at the following places:

Digital Download ($8.99 to $13):
iTunes: [Long] [Short]
Amazon MP3: [Long] [Short]
CDON: [Long] [Short]
7digital: [Long] [Short]
Bandcamp: [Long] [Short]

Streaming (Free, as in ad-supported or subscriptional):
Spotify: [Long] [Short]
Deezer: [Long] [Short]

CD (€20 (~$25) + shipping):
Bandcamp: [Long] [Short]

Happy Holiday shopping and listening!

The new Lost Shadow album Quandaries and Panaceas is released today, and is available for download from iTunes, Amazon MP3 and CDON. If you prefer to be streaming it, you can do so at Deezer. You can find the links you need at the bottom of this post. This is my most political album to date, featuring an aggressive attack on the ignorance towards today’s and tomorrow’s environmental threats shown by governments, companies and many people. Quandaries and Panaceas is angry, thoughtful, beautiful and filled with hope, all at the same time.

There is two versions of the album, a short (about an hour), and a long (almost two hours of music). The concept for writing the songs was to let them expand for as long as I had ideas for them, and then make shorter, more pop friendly versions. In the end I decided to put out the long versions as well, as they have their own qualities, and provide a deeper understanding of the whole album. I highly recommend using Deezer or Spotify and listen to both versions.

During the week, the album is expected to show up at emusic and 7digital, with a Spotify release date in early December. Very soon, physical copies of the album, in CD format, will be available for order. Also, if you buy a download of the complete album, you can e-mail a copy of the receipt to us to obtain free bonus material (such as a digital booklet).

iTunes: [Long] [Short]
Amazon MP3: [Long] [Short]
CDON: [Long] [Short]
Deezer: [Long] [Short]