I always get nervous when an indie band sends me a really expensive, slick press kit. I figure that if a band has to spend a ton of money to get noticed their music can't stand out on its own.
This week, I got in a press kit for The Sonflowerz, a sister pop duo charting well in the indie charts.
I'm not sure if they family has money to burn or what, but they've spared no expense promoting the act. At GMA, a huge (and expensive) banner with the girls' faces emblazoned on it donned the hallway outside the convention center. The press kit I got this week is four-color and packed with information, including a full CD and copy of a letter from President George Bush thanking the girls for sending him a CD and wishing them well their careers.
Yes, they sent a CD to the President of the United States.
Fortunately, I had interviewed the girls, Elissa and Becca Leander, at GMA and found them sweet and down to earth, so I gave the album, All Over The World, a spin (rather than throwing it into the indie bin.)
I'm glad I listened. The album is surprisingly good.
Lyrically, you'll find typical Christian pop radio fare; it's not complicated and occasionally repetitive, but it is well sung. Standouts include the current singles, "Edge Of My Seat" and "My Adoration," as well as "More Than I Think I Am" and "Prayer For The Prodigal."
And it's clear no expense was spared on the production.
I should have expected a great album. The Sonflowerz were the Best Overall Vocal and Group of the Year winners at the 2007 GMA Music in the Rockies competition. "Edge Of My Seat" reached #1 on the CRW Indie chart the week it was released.
The girls, who are British Americans, have also been touring and charting in Europe, where their single, "Move Me," from their 2005 indie album Alive In You, rose to #4 on the Christian Music Chart, edging out major artists like Kutless and Audio Adrenaline.
The Sonflowerz are currently on tour promoting their new album, All Over The World. Visit them online at http://sonflowerz.com/home/ for more information.
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I just happen to know of the band, and know some parts of the music biz fairly well - so to answer the author's questions: The reason this CD is so well-produced and well-funded, was simply the girls themselves... Everyone that gets to know them ends up with the same favorable experience as the author did - they are the real deal. They do what they do for the love of their faith, and have carried on touring 'all over the world' like their title track says, for over 7 years. Since most record labels are busy slashing their budgets and laying off employees, the only way a new band gets a break these days is from private investors - who I know found these sister's music a breath of fresh air, and believed in them... Bottom line: the old days when labels had money spend on new acts is long gone, thanks in large part to missing the chance to make money on downloading (unlike I-Tunes), and thanks to, let's say, a generally non-business-like approach to spending money in the record biz...
Unlike the earlier writer, I am new to the Christian music scene - so I am just glad to get some recommendations and plan to check out their tunes via link, um, right now.
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