Don’t forget you can download 3 tracks from each artist in the Sellaband shop, who knows you may like what you hear enough to buy the CD
Just head here

Don’t forget you can download 3 tracks from each artist in the Sellaband shop, who knows you may like what you hear enough to buy the CD
Just head here

Hi readers, its been a while sorry about that. I really wanted to post Mandyleigh Storms experiences of Sellaband, having been luck enough to spend time with both Mandyleigh and Gary I can say that they have always been upfront and honest so I have no problem believing what has been said. Honest thoughts and opinions are welcome but please no personal attacks
so here goes
“My Sellaband experience
Sellaband promote themselves as the next era of online music, with artists and fans collaborating in a beautiful partnership which gives birth to amazing music and worldwide recognition. Well I am one of the Sellaband artists, and I can tell you from the heart that although that is what they apparently aim for, I believe it is far far different. In my opinion Sellaband are on online collection point for artists to showcase to music lovers and ask for money/investment and a beautiful album is produced with the proceeds, but they have little care or interest in the music once it has seen the light of day.
Here I will be honest and tell you my particular experience of Sellaband as the “Record Label 2.0″. This is all my opinion and experience and may (or may not) be different with other artists. After nearly two years of Sellaband doing next to nothing, I have to release this for my own sanity. I used to suffer from suicidal depression, and unfortunately, I am suffering from it again, thanks largely in part to Sellaband and their lack of support generally, and in particular their lack of support in a copyright claim on one of the tracks.
In June 2007 I became the 7th artist to reach the Sellaband goal of $50,000. People from all over the world liked my rough demo’s enough to support me and help fund me an album. Little did I know at that time that Sellaband would be practically non-existant in promotion, truth, communication and support. I think they are very good at confusion, ignorance, sarcasm and (in one particular case) abuse.
I made my choice of producer and recorded my dream album in the UK with the producer of Van Morrison… Mick Glossop.
“Fire & Snow” was released on February the 14th 2008. You can download the album for free.
Sellaband may be reasonable as a site where people with money to invest, meet people who create music, and they may also be a good place for contacts like Mick Glossop and some other great producers…. but, in my opinion they are totally useless at promotion. Sellaband can have partners like The Orchard, iTunes and Amazon as arena’s to sell the albums… but what’s the point if no-one even knows the album exists? When the album was released Johan said it was “magical and emotional”, and “the best Sellaband cd released yet”. Without promotion for the magic though, it`s stayed hidden in a box.
Sellaband have the attitude that they instigate the album, but all of it’s promotion is down to you. Their publisher offered a small promotion budget at one time of 2,500 Euro’s, but they give you no advice or direction on how best to use it. Sellaband also promise promotion via their partners, but rarely do these materialise. One case of not living up to promises is that the Amazon.co.uk site have a ‘Vines’ initiative, where Amazon.co.uk send out albums to preferred customers who then give honest reviews of the albums on the site, which helps give those artists some much needed exposure. Sellaband said that my album would be on there soon after it was released. It wasn’t. They then said that Amazon were going to do a Vines on my album and others from Australasia as some kind of ‘Down Under’ (with Maitreya and Vegas Dragons) theme…. nope, never happened. They said it would definitely happen by January 2009…. never materialised. Yes I know plans can change with 3rd-parties, but the Vines happened for some others. Wy keep promising something they can’t or had no intention of delivering? Also, there was hardly any communication from Sellaband. I had to keep emailing them to find out of any possible plans, and mostly didn’t get a reply, and sometimes a reply which wasn’t very clear at all.
Sellaband also said they would get a distributor in Australia so the physical cd’s could be sold in stores here (for at least Vegas Dragons, Maitreya and myself). We even gave them a list of the main distributors. They said they would meet one of them in Midem. Never happened. Maybe the distributors weren’t interested (if they did actually contact them)… Sellaband never said anything about distribution in Australia again and I gave up asking.
At certain times Sellaband have been, in my opinion, rude, abrupt, sloppy and also vague. It was hard to get the album artwork done as there was little information on how best to design it, so my husband found out most of the technical details himself and informed Sellaband of them. Deadlines were missed with the release of my album for no apparent reason. It was a real chore to get them to transfer the money in time for the flights to Amsterdam (we borrowed money from my family to pay for the tickets while we waited for Sellaband to get their act together). I did express my concerns on many issues in June 2008 in a confidential email to Adam Sieff (A&R), and in reply Adam just glossed over many of the issues.
After the album was recorded, Adam doesn’t really do much to help the artists in my opinion. Or maybe it’s just me, as I haven’t spoken much to the other artists about their experiences. I thought A&R were there to help advise on how to best promote an album with whatever funds were available. Adam helped with the recording of the album, and found me a place to stay in London during the recording, but once the album was finished there was not much coming from Adam at all.
Just over a month after the album was released, I got a threatening and abusive email from Casper about ‘Deep Sea Green’ (one of the tracks on the album). He was claiming I had stolen his music!. That page will also also let you know about why I didn’t trust Casper after we had met in Holland, and the melody and lyrics he has stolen from me). Basically Casper refused to let his music be used on the album for Deep Sea Green, so after getting some professional guidance from the experts (Adam, Johan and Mick), my melody and lyrics were recorded with totally different music (written by Johnny Scott, Van Morrison’s guitarist). This cost more money and time and it would have been much more preferable to have Casper’s music be involved… it might have been an even better sounding song, but we never had that option. This (the ‘Deep Sea Green’ issue) is a major part of my dissatisfaction with Sellaband and the major cause of my suicidal depression re-appearing… in fact, I feel totally betrayed by them on this. I couldn’t truly count on their support, even when the head of the company is supposedly behind you 100%.
After initially saying he was behind me 100% against Casper, Johan then did little to actually sort it out. When I did sometimes get a reply on the issue, he said there was nothing they could do and it was something that had to be resolved between Casper and I. After getting the runaround with Sellaband and then later with BUMA/STEMRA (click the link above for the full story), I eventually (after nearly two years) gave Sellaband an ultimatum.
On the 8th of January 2010 I gave Sellaband until the 31st of January 2010 to sort out the ‘Deep Sea Green issue’. At last, something happened.
A new person (Mars) would be in charge of this matter, as he used to work at BUMA. Mars seemed pretty decent and was at least communicating with me in the first part of January to try and sort something out. He said he was going to set up a meeting with someone he knew at BUMA when they were back from holiday.
Right now, nothing has still been finalised and I haven’t had any reply from Sellaband as to an update.
My time with Sellaband started on so many highs, but after so many disappointments and, in my opinion, betrayal, it has ended on a great low. I think the people who are in charge of Sellaband are incompetent and severely lack communication skills (not just with me but with the whole Sellaband community, and many have complained about this). The real force behind Sellaband are the people who fund the artists to make their albums, and it’s they who I feel sorry for. There are alot of great artists on Sellaband, some wonderful music, and it was a great idea to somehow bring the music and the audience together to create some magic. Unfortunately, I don’t think the leaders at Sellaband have any interest in the music itself, just the money leading up to it, and maybe striking it lucky with someone who is either already rich (Clemence) or already very well known (Public Enemy) and are able to do all the promotion/advertising themselves while Sellaband sit back and take some of the glory. For the rest of us unknowns, small fry… it’s a bittersweet experience and leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth.
The lesson here is twofold: If you don’t have a proper promotion budget or strategy, your music is stillborn. Also, write down proper contracts binding musical collaborators to actually supplying their music/lyrics/melody for a song to be released commercially…. so they can’t refuse to contribute one minute and then whine about it when you go ahead and just use your part with something new.
Sellaband: Great idea, pity about the execution. Hopefully they improve.”
This can also be found at http://www.mandyleigh.com/sellaband/ including links etc

Liza Lee’s CD Anima arrived today and wow !!! what a fantastic Album
Head over to http://cdbaby.com/cd/lizaleemusic for your copy today, and dont forget the proceeds from Anima go to The Society For Women’s Health Research (SWHR)

The next Artist on the Q&A is none other the the Mighty man himself Brian Taylor
Thanks for taking part Amigo
Who are the artist whose style you like (world wide)?
I am a fan of many different styles of music. Some of my all time favourite artists are Billy Joel, David Bowie, Muse, The Beatles and blues legends like Elmore James and BB King. I also love listening to classical music by the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.
However my main love is loud rock n’ roll and heavy metal. I am a big fan of Metallica, Guns n Roses, Pantera, Korn and Alice in Chains.
Do you draw from reference or from your ‘imagination’?
I take from a mixture of both. I sometimes write very personal songs that reflect what is happening with my life. “One life only” is a perfect example of that. It is a song telling me to make the most of this short life that I have.
Other songs I write trying to imagine how a person may feel about dealing with their situations. “17 Steps” and “Hands of love” are good examples.
The new Sellaband CD “Lovingly Cruel” is no exception. There are personal songs like “Betrayal” which talks about how it feels to be betrayed by someone you trusted and “Fix your life” which is an ode to fixing up the screw ups of your life.
Then there are songs like “But I can’t” (which features Tiffany Gow) which is a song about a man who wants to be reunited with his loved one but he can’t be because he killed her. Then there is a song called “Heroin Helen” (which features Sarah’s Smile ‘s Joyce Dijkgraaf ) about drug abuse. I haven’t used heroin or killed anyone so I rely on my imagination there.
When you get an idea for music, what do you do most of the time? Do you sit down and write the whole thing or do you record a little bit at a time and then put it all together?
It varies. Sometimes you get a break and you can write a great song in less than an hour. That was the case with “Very Bad Day” and “One life only.” However a lot of the time it is hard work. I will struggle to perfect the lyrics and come up with a melody or a riff and work from there. I have been blessed to work with musical genuis producer Phil Tweed on all three CDs and he comes up with great ideas to make the songs even better.
What is the most memorable moment of your career?
There have been a few. I remember how proud I felt when I finished our first CD “One life only.” I remember thinking: “If I die today, at least I have done this with my life.”
Playing live on the same stage with my great friend Tiffany Gow in 2007 was very special.
Making the “Sellaband Presents part 2″ CD was fantastic, as was getting to $50,000 and being the 8th recording artist for Sellaband.
Going to Europe in 2007 and being on stage for Sellaband was very special. While I didn’t sing at the gig it was great to meet so many genuine and wonderful people. It was very special to be on the stage with the Boss (Johan V) and announce the acts.

What goes through your head right before you walk on stage?
“I wonder if the people in the front row will be offended if I puke all over them?” I get anxiety attacks just before going on stage. It is probably like the feeling you would have just before sky diving: Nervous as hell but it is one hell of a rush when you get out there!
When you are creating your fabulous music, which comes first – the lyrics, the melody or the instrumentals?
It varies. Sometime I just churn out lyrics. I have bookloads full of them. Other times I am just mucking around on the guitar or the piano and a great music idea pops out first. Sometimes if I am really lucky – they both come together at the same time. I have learned not to question it but just go with the flow.
Besides other musicians is there anyone else that you looked up to during your childhood?
My mother (Vegas Mama) was and still is my hero. My father died when I was two and my brother was not even a year old. She brought us up by herself and sacrificed a lot for us. I love her very much and have always looked up to her.
What’s your favourite musical Instrument?
Guitar. Nothing beats the sound of loud guitar for me. I love sitting down and working out new riffs and working on songs with guitar. Piano would be a close second – especially if it is being played by Phil Tweed. Then violin and cello.
what CD or tape do you have in your player right now?
Vegas Dragons “Lovingly Cruel” on repeat.
How would you describe your experience so far of Sellaband ?
Fantastic! It is been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my entire life. This website allowed Vegas Dragons to make a world class quality CD. Just as important, the friends that I have made on this website are some of the greatest people I know. I am a huge fan of Sellaband and I always will be. I am very proud that I have the company’s logo tattooed on my arm.
How would you describe the recording process of your Sellaband CD?
I felt a tremendous amout of pressure from the moment we raised the money. I knew that the money had to be very wisely spent and that the songs had to be of premium quality. I honestly believed that we accomplished that. However I guess our Believers and the buying public will be the final judge on that.
Where in the world would you most like to visit ?
Europe and to come with the whole band. I am hoping that we can raise another $50,000 at http://www.sellaband.com/vegasdragonslive/ and make that dream a reality.
What can we expect from your forthcoming Album ?
Killer guitar riffs, aggression, screaming, unique lyrical content, unrelentless uncompromising music from a band that are playing as if their future depended on it.
Anything else to add?
I would like to thank all the people who have supported Vegas Dragons on Sellaband – it really means the world. Thank you for Believing in Vegas Dragons.

| Marcog-record co. wannabe | 05.03.08 | 7 |
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Download (for free!) 3 Mandy’s great songs and if you like what you’re listening to (I’m sure) buy the others (3.50 $ is a steal!)
Review >>> Has Mandyleigh Storm something to do with the big ladies of contemporary music in the 70’s (Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchel)? Well, yes because as she said her new album Fire & Snow has a rootsy, modern hippy, 60`s/70`s approach and feel. Not only, because she has her own (strong) personality and her music is a creative development of these roots.
Fire and Snow has been recorded almost live (something rare these days), the producer Mick Glossop has done a fine job in presenting Mandyleigh music in the best way and preserving the “animal” in her. The musicians Johnny Scott (Van Morrison) Liam Genockey (Steeleye Span) Tim Harries (Steeleye Span) James Lascelles (Frank Zappa) have done a superlative performance
The opening of the album, Deep Sea Green, brings me into a western atmosphere (beautiful textures of guitars and banjo, outstanding voice of Mandy ) and there’s no doubt that this song is a highlight, for sure one of the best candidate for a single or to be broadcasted on radio. Winter’s Day is the longest song, remarkable for the many changes of tempos and strong guitar parts: here you can appreciate Mandyleigh temperament.
Alive is a sentimental song smoothly sung. Go With It has soul. Which Way: an unplugged ballad with a light piano. Bright Sunny Day, bluesy. Keep The Silence, ok I try, but this songs makes me move!
Cry Hard: another longer, harder, rock song, amazing vocals on distorted guitar, my passion! The ballad Let It Go and Grey, a wonderful excursus into Mandyleigh sentiment and soul, bring you to the end of this amazing journey. |
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Interview with Mandyleigh Storm, Album ” Fire & Snow” out now !


Who are the artist who’s styles you like (world wide)?
LOVE JANIS JOPLIN, NICK DRAKE, SEAL, JEFF BUCKLEY, BEATLES, JOHN LENNON, SARAH VAUGHAN, NINA SIMONE, GEORGE MICHAEL, COLDPLAY, ENYA, BARBRA STREISAND. TOO MANY TO LIST.
THESE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FAVES!
Do you draw from reference or from your ‘imagination’?
I DRAW FROM THE WAY I FEEL. MY LIFE EXPERIENCES. SOMETIMES A RHYTHM. SOMETHING THAT TOUCHES ME AND I FIND THE NEED TO WRITE ABOUT IT. GREAT VIBRATIONS AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU AND GOOD FEELINGS INSIDE BREEDS THE NEED TO WRITE AND MAKE MELODIES. I BRING TOGETHER THE VOICE AND INFLUENCES I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO OVER THE YEARS AND THE BLEND IS OFTEN ECLECTIC EACH TIME.
When you get an idea for music, what do you do most of the time? Do you sit down and write the whole thing or do you record a little bit at a time and then put it all together?
SOMETIMES I CAN WRITE FOR 10-30 MINUTES AND SIT THERE THINKING, HEARING AND SING TO MYSELF AND WILL COME UP WITH THE MAIN MELODY AND LYRICS… OTHER TIMES WHEN I AM OFTEN IN A HURRY OR NEEDING TO GO TO BED I WILL RECORD IT. ITS WHAT TAKES MY FANCY AT THE TIME BUT THE MOST TIME I WILL SIT DOWN, WRITE AND GET EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE AND THEN RECORD THE MORE FINISHED PRODUCT AFTER THAT.
What is the most memorable moment of your career?
OH, THERE WILL BE A FEW AND THERE ARE A FEW… EACH DAY IS DIFFERENT, A FEELING CAN BE DIFFERENT SO TO SAY A PARTICULAR ONE I CAN`T. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THE TWO HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE HAVE BEEN TO PERFORM AT THE PARADISO AND MEET SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO HELPED MY DREAMS. THAT FEELING WAS AWESOME AND ONE I CAN`T EVEN DESCRIBE BUT IT WAS ACUTE HAPPINESS AND FULLFILMENT.
THE OTHER IS TO BE IN THE UK WITH A TOP PRODUCER LEGEND LIKE MICK GLOSSOP… BEING SURROUNDED BY JOHNNY, TIM, LIAM AND JAMES AND HEARING THE BEAUTY THAT EACH ONE POURED OUT BVERY TIME THEY PLAYED MY SONGS. THAT TRUST, CONTENTMENT AND FEELING OF RECORDING MY ALBUM WILL BE IN MY HEART AND SOUL FOREVER. THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS WILL NEVER BE TAKEN FROM ME. I WILL NEVER STOP STRIVING FOR FULLFILMENT IN ALL ITS DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT THAT IS A VERY DEFINATE SATISFACTION FOR ME, FOR A LIFETIME.
What goes through your head right before you walk on stage?
I`M BUZZING COMPLETELY. I WANT AND FEEL THE NEED TO DO MY BEST WITH EACH PERFORMANCE. ITS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO WALK AWAY FROM A PERFORMANCE AND KNOW THAT I COULDN`T GIVE ANYMORE. I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY. I START TO FEEL IN MY BODY QUITE OVERWHELMED BY THE ENERGY AND HONESTY OF WHAT WILL COME WITH MY PERFORMANCE. I WILL THEN LEAVE THE STAGE LITERALLY POURING WITH EVERY WORD I SUNG.
When you are creating your fabulous music, which comes first – the lyrics, the melody or the instrumentals?
WELL OFTEN LYRICS AND MELODY WILL COME AT THE SAME TIME. I SOMETIMES KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WORDS TO KEEP AND IF THEY AREN`T RIGHT THEN THEY WILL START TO POUR OUT SOON ENOUGH TO MAKE THE WHOLE SONG STORY. LYRICS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME SO THEY MUST BE RIGHT… I`LL PLAY ABOUT WITH A MELODY UNTIL IT FEELS AND SOUNDS RIGHT.
Besides other musicians is there anyone else that you looked up to during your childhood?
I REALLY LOOKED UP TO JOHN LENNON IN MY TEENS. LOVED HIS OFTEN BRUTAL SORT OF HONESTY. LOVED HIS MUSIC AND THEN WAS HE PUT TOGETHER HIS LYRICS AND MELODIES. JUST A GENIUS.
I VERY MUCH LOOKED UP TO AND STARTED SINGING BECAUSE OF BARBRA STREISAND.
I HAD ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO PARENTS AS I ALWAYS APPRECIATED THEIR HONESTY TO ME AND FOR MY GROWING.
Coming from England, do you visit England often; and do you miss living there?
OH MAN, ITS HOME. FROM SOUTHAMPTON ORIGINALLY BUT MY HOME I WOULD SAY WAS IN KENT. I FELT SO AT EASE THERE. BUT TO BE HONEST I CAN VISIT BRIGHTON, CORNWALL AND SOMMERSET AND THEY COULD BE MY HOMES TOO.
THE LAST TIME I CAME TO THE UK WAS FOR THE RECORDING OF “FIRE & SNOW” AND I WAS MOSTLY VERY BUSY DOING THAT TO BE VISITING, BUT I DID GET TO SEE/LIVE IN SHEPHERDS BUSH. I WENT INTO LONDON A FEW TIMES WHEN I COULD AND LOVED THE BUZZ FROM DAY TO NIGHT.
I MISS IT SO VERY MUCH. IT IS MY DREAM TO MOVE BACK TO THE UK ONE DAY IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE WITH MY FAMILY. FOR NOW WE ARE BASED IN PERTH W.A.
what CD or tape do you have in your player right now?
OH, JEFF BUCKLEY AND OF COURSE “FIRE & SNOW” HAS BEEN ON MOST DAYS.
`TAPE` MARTIN? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING HERE?

How did you here about Sellaband?
MY HUSBAND GARY PUT MY PROFILE UP AND TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT AND THAT I WAS ON THERE.
Have you enjoyed your experience on Sellaband so far ?
OH GOODNESS YEAH! WHO WOULDN`T WHEN IT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT MOST EMOTIONS, FULLFILMENT, FRIENDS, MUSIC, DREAMS, EXCITEMENT AND SHEER LOVE AND LAUGHTER. ALL GREAT STUFF FOR THE SOUL. AND SO FAR IT IS, THERE ARE MANY EXPERIENCES TO GO. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING…
Could you say a few words about your Album Fire & Snow and how you recorded it ?
IT IS FULL OF SONGS (APART FROM “”GREY” WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY GARY ABOUT ME AND WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH…) THAT ARE EITHER FROM THE HEART, LIFE EXPERIENCE, DEPRESSION, CELEBRATION, IMAGININGS, OR GOOD OLD LOVE AND PASSION…
DEDICATED & NAMED AFTER MY TWO DAUGHTERS (DAMARIS AUBREY FIRE & ZYAH VIOLET SNOW). THERE IS A LITTLE THUNDER BOLT TO REPRESENT MY BUBBY ON THE WAY WHO IS DUE ON THE 27TH OF APRIL. HE WILL HAVE `THUNDER` IN HIS NAME. HE HELPED ME ALOT WHEN I WAS IN UK RECORDING. A LITTLE CREATION HELPING THE BIGGER CREATION…
IT HAS 6 FULL SONGS AND 4 ACOUSTICALLY RECORDED SONGS. PLAYED LIVE WITH LITTLE OVERDUBS. LIVE ALL AIDS TO THE `PERFORMANCE` . THIS TYPE OF RECORDING DOESN`T HAPPEN MUCH THESE DAYS.
IT IS A PIECE OF BEAUTY AND HONESTY WITH ALL ITS VARIED COLOURS. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF “FIRE & SNOW” AND I AM ABSOLUTELY READY TO RECORD ANOTHER ALBUM VERY SOON AGAIN.
I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY WITH MY LIFE NOW BEING BLESSED WITH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND A WONDERFUL ALBUM. I JUST WANT THE WORLD TO FEEL THE STORM COMING AND KNOW THE REAL MANDYLEIGH WITH ALL HER ECLECTIC COLOURS.
Thankyou to Mandyleigh for taking part in my Q&A’s
Visit her site http://www.sellaband.com/shop/artist/mandyleigh/ where you can download 3 tracks for FREE, download the full Album or order the CD in either Ltd Edition or standard format


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