Heads up musicians, producers and fans! Dredg is inviting you to remix their song Gathering Pebbles and win some killer prizes! Here’s the invitation, straight from the horse’s mouth:

Hello all, thanks for taking the time to remix Gathering Pebbles. Feel free to do as you wish with the stems, and use only as many as you wish. We look forward to hearing some alternate versions of the song and we’ll be selecting our favorite in April. We will make the winning remix available for sale on iTunes and the winner will be granted a producer/remix royalty percentage!

Dredg (aka vocalist Gavin Hayes, guitarist Mark Engles, bassist Drew Roulette and drummer/keyboardist Dino Campanella) is a prolific indie band that has been building a worldwide following for over a decade. Through their truly captivating live performances, they have developed a devoted, cult like following (in a good way). While on stage, the band completely immerses its audience with their sound and strangely calming, yet intense, presence. For a great example of just how connected their fans are, check out this video that a dredg fan made for Gathering Pebbles:

Gathering Pebbles is a driving, psych-rock tune that has a lot of interesting layers to play with. The song is off of the band’s 2009 release The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion, their 4th studio album. Bassist Drew Roulette describes the album as “a rock and roll record, filled with experimental journeys and eccentric jousts,” and now it’s your turn to join the journey and take it wherever your creativity leads you.

The Gathering Pebbles remix contest, which is powered by MixMatchMusic, starts today (February 1, 2010) and runs until April 1, 2010 at 12pm PST.  All entries will be heard and winners will be carefully selected by dredg. The grand prize is big for any musician/producer looking to break out in the music industry, and the runner up prizes are pretty sweet as well:

• One grand-prize winner: The winning remix will be officially released by dredg. The remixer will get a royalty payment of 3% from the sale of the remixed version of Gathering Pebbles. The winner will also receive a bundle package that includes a signed The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion CD, a T-Shirt and a pair of tickets to a dredg show of choice.

• Two runner up winners: Each winner will receive a bundle package, that includes a signed The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion CD, a T-Shirt and a pair of tickets to a dredg show of choice.

To enter the contest, visit dredg’s website, or scroll down to the widget below. You can download the stems for free and make your remix using the software of your choice. Or, if you want to keep things even simpler, click on the MixMaker button and make your mix online. If you’ve never made a remix before and want to get a behind-the-scenes look at how dredg made the song, be sure to check out the MixMaker. Most importantly, upload your remix to dredg’s widget so that you can get credit for your masterpiece! Other people can listen to it, vote on it and share it. You can read the official contest rules here.

Inspired Flight. This band has a sound that is hard to describe. And yet, looking at the artists they list as influences on their MySpace page, their sound just makes sense. They’ve really learned how to incorporate some of the subtle and intangible things that make those musicians great musicians.

Their bio says it well. “Rooted in hip-hop and dipping into elements of indie rock, downtempo, dub and dance, Inspired Flight is taking your pre-conceived notion of what a band and DJ are and merging them into something new and quite hypnotizing.” Though their sound clearly incorporates a myriad of different elements, including vocals, keyboards, other exotic instruments, and laptops, this band is made up of just two people -  master turntablist, OpenOptics, and accomplished guitarist/songwriter, Chavez. To learn a little more about their respective musical backgrounds and inspiration, click here.

The duo wants you to join their remix contest, powered by MixMatchMusic. Go on. Have a long hard listen to their song, “It Always Takes,” feel it, breath it, internalize it. (This, by the way, is easy to do because the song is beautiful. It has a haunting melody and something generally mesmerizing about it.) Then, take it apart and re-envision it as your own. Add, subtract, multiply, magnify, simplify, or otherwise modify the song to your liking.

To do so, you can download the stems (for free) and use your own software to remix them, OR if you want to keep things even simpler, click on the MixMaker button and make your mix online. Most importantly, UPLOAD your remix so that you can get credit for your masterpiece! Other people can listen to it, vote on it and share it.

This remix contest runs until January 31st, 2010 and Inspired Flight will choose their favorite submission. The lucky winner will be the featured bonus track on their album, coming in March 2010. Nice! Oh ya, and you’ll also get a limited edition T-shirt and poster, as well as an Eyeball HD Webcam from Blue Microphones. Read the complete contest rules here.

Go. Be inspired!

Most musicians have started to realize the importance of social media. And by social media I mean more than just having a MySpace page for your band. While not all of them are on twitter like they should be, many have at least figured out where their target listener demographic hangs out. One band that is clearly ahead of the curve is British synthpop trio, Filthy Dukes. The first thing you notice on their website is the social media links to Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, YouTube, Flickr, Last.fm, Wikipedia, and Twitter.

In addition to being thoroughly dialed in to the social media world, Filthy Dukes also understand the importance of artist-fan interaction. Not only are they  letting fans into their world, they’re letting fans become part of the creative process. For example, on their site they had this announcement: “Come have a go at the Tupac Robot Club Rock rap and appear in a Filthy Dukes video!”

Get in on the action yourself and have a go at remixing their song, TupacRobotClubRock, using MixMatchMusic’s Remix Wizard. The song is an electro-rock banger, complete with dirty synths, driving beats and several different vocal tracks for you to play with. The winner will win a day with the Filthy Dukes in their very own studio! Not only will you get the chance to see the band at work, you’ll get to perfect your own remix on the mixing desk of Conny Plank, Kraftwerk’s legendary producer. This is the very mixing desk, built to Plank’s own specifications, that was used on everything from Autobahn to the Eurythmics’ debut and Ultravox’s Vienna. This piece of musical heritage is now pride of place in the Filthy Dukes’ studio.

Get remixing for your chance to bag this amazing unique opportunity! Depending on your audio editing expertise (or lack thereof) you have two options available to you. You can either download the stems for free and use any software you want (go nuts!), or just click on the MixMaker button on the widget to make a remix in MixMatchMusic’s simple online music editor, which is fairly intuitive and easy-to-use for the layman, yet still full of cool features. This is also a great way to just see how the song was made. Once you’ve completed your remix, don’t forget to upload it so that others can listen to, vote on and share it.

Filthy Dukes will select the winning remix, taking into account the votes and rating each remix receives on the Remix Wizard widget. The deadline for entry is 1/11/10. Date in the studio TBA on consultation of band and winner. No purchase necessary. No transport or accommodation included. No prize alternatives offered.

Calling all DJ’s, Producers and Recording Artists!!

Talenthouse is partnering with MixMatchMusic’s online remix technology to give you the chance to remix Photek’s track and submit it to Talenthouse for a chance to be on an upcoming Photek release. For all of you Drum & Bass lovers out there, here’s your chance to help Photek finish a song! Photek, who has been producing and spinning creative drum and bass since 1992, is looking for dubstep and 4 to the floor remixes of his Drum & Bass track, “Fake ID”. He’s asking creators to produce a banging track that people would want to hear in a club. Our friends at Talenthouse say that they’re not looking for Photek clones, but for people to be original. Can you dig it?

If your remix is selected by Photek and the Talenthouse community, it will become an official Photek release and you will be credited in full as the official remixer and receive full promotion and distribution.

How to participate:
The Photek “Fake ID” remix contest can be found on the Talenthouse website as well as in a Remix Wizard that has been setup for the contest.  Stems can be downloaded from either place, but please be sure to upload your remix to both places. If you don’t have any music making software, you can use MixMatchMusic’s MixMaker to make your own remix online! For a complete list of rules and requirements, check this.

Who is Photek?
Although Photek is recognized as one of the founding pioneers of Drums and Bass, what sets him apart from the crows is his amazing ability to take the signature Photek sound to different places, outside the D&B genre.

While on Virgin Records, he managed to chart some of the most groundbreaking music into mainstream consciousness with the albums “Modus Operandi” and “Solaris”. His singles have spanned the full spectrum of electronic music, with straight up club hits like “Mine To Give” to the most legendary & abstract “Ni Ten Ichi Ryu”. It is this versatility and originality that has made Photek a favorite among artists such as Trent Reznor, Andre 3000, Bjork & David Bowie.

Originally from London, Photek is now based in Los Angeles where he finds himself evolving into an ever broader range of music through film music and artist collaborations. The UK/USA connection seems to have worked out perfectly for Photek, with the “Love & War” named Single Of The Week on BBC Radio 1 in London and his mixes of NIN’s “The Hand That Feeds” a hit on KROQ in Los Angeles.

Here’s a little taste of some of Photek’s remix, production, and score credits:
Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, Bjork, Gwen Stefani, Goldie, Zero 7, Shy Fx/Elephant Man, Everything But The Girl, Roni Size “Reprazent”, Beth Orton, Attica Blues, London Electricity, Bumblebeez, Therapy, The Faint, Ringside, Jem, Rairbirds, Craig Armstrong, M. Night Shyamalan’s – Signs, Six Feet Under, The Matrix – Animatrix, The Italian Job, Stay, Invincible, American Wedding, Dreamland, Blade, City Of Industry, Raising The Bar.

Their new album, Exotic on the Speaker, is the “result of years of creative collaborations and finesse – culminating in 13 club ready tracks featuring the likes of Ghostface, Del the Funky Homosapien, M.I.A. understudy Rye Rye, Pigeon John, Lyrics Born, and more,” says The Daily Rind.

In anticipation of the new album, the boys released a free promo mixtape, Exotic on the Mixtape, including the song “Put em up”, which Pitchfork calls “an exuberant synthesis of traditional Israeli folk melodies and familiar hip-hop sensibilities.” You can download it all here.

Once you’ve download the mixtape, read Soulico’s answers to The Music Slut’s 8 Questions, including how playing to an Israeli audience differs from an American one, and check out Sabbo’s blog, Noiz in Zion, if you like remixes (and free downloads). Of course they are on MySpace and Facebook too.

JDub Records, which is a “not-for-profit dedicated to innovative Jewish music, community, and cross cultural dialogue,” was lucky enough to sign Soulico before anyone else found them. CEO Aaron Bisman happened upon their first mixtape while he was rummaging through the bins at Tel Aviv’s Hatav Hashmini record store. Apparently they were hard to track down, but he jumped on their MySpace the day it went up and claimed them.

Thanks to our friends over at JDub Records for hooking us up with these guys. As part of the release of their new album, Soulico wants you to remix the title track, “Exotic on the Speaker,” and is giving you access to the stems of the song via the MixMatchMusic Remix Wizard. You can either download the stems (for free) and use the audio editing software of your choice OR simply click on the MixMaker button on the widget to make a remix in MixMatchMusic’s simple online music editor. If you’ve never experienced remixing before, or just want to see how the song was made, check out the MixMaker. Once you’ve completed your remix, upload it so that others can listen to, vote on and share it.

Soulico will be choosing one grand prize winner plus three runner-ups. Here’s what you can win:

Grand Prize:
- Soulico – Exotic on the Speaker CD + LP
- Stanton YakPak DJ bag filled with JDub Vinyl
- Your choice of Prime Loops Software
- Pair of Radius Ear buds
- Remix featured on jdubrecords.org & Soulico myspace

3 Runner-Ups:
- Stanton YakPak DJ bag filled with JDub Vinyl
- Copy of Soulico – Exotic on the Speaker CD
- Remix featured on jdubrecords.org & Soulico myspace

Deadlines: Contest starts Monday, October 5th and ends Monday November 23rd. Check out the official rules here.

Get on it!

Heads up fans, producers, and DJs! We’ve got a brand new remix contest for all of you looking for new and impressive ways to participate in the creative process and show off your DIY skills. MixMatchMusic has joined forces with Bay Area rapper Lyrics Born and eyewear company Sutro Vision to bring you a chance to remix Lyrics Born’s newest single, a re-union track with the other half of his Latyrx duo, Lateef the Truthspeaker, called “Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart.”

“Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart” will be appearing on both Lyrics Born’s upcoming Variety Show mixtape and the studio album he has due in 2010. The track utilizes female vocals, synths and moving drum and clap percussion to frame uptempo lyrics from Born and Lateef surrounding the decisions and choices they’ve been faced with making for their careers. Check out the video for the single below.

In an effort to engage and interact with fans, as well as contribute to the growing number of artists allowing fans to remix their work, Lyrics Born has loaded the stems to “Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart” into the MixMatchMusic Remix Wizard and has given you two options for making a remix: Either download the stems for free and use any software you want, or just click on the MixMaker button on the widget to make a remix in MixMatchMusic’s simple online music editor. If you’ve never experienced remixing before, or just want to see how the song was made, check out the MixMaker. Once you’ve completed your remix, upload it so that others can listen to, vote on and share it.

So what will you win? From the entries, Lyrics Born himself will be picking three winners – a grand prize and two runner-up prizes. The grand prize winner will receive a pair of Lyrics Born signed Sutro sunglasses (these shades are sweet!), autographed copies of the entire Variety Show catalog, a Lyrics Born T-Shirt, 2 free tickets to any Lyrics Born show, a meet and greet with Lyrics Bron at said show, and their track featured on LyricsBorn.com presented by Lyrics Born himself.

The 2 runner ups will each receive a pair of Lyrics Born signed Sutro sunglasses (he will sign the case), a copy of the new Lyrics Born Variety Show mixtape, a Lyrics Born T-Shirt and 2 free tickets to any Lyrics Born show as well as their remix featured on LyricsBorn.com. The official rules for the contest are available here.

So what are you waiting for? The contest starts today (Tuesday, August 25th) and runs through Friday September 25th. Tune in, sign on and start mixing!

We recently introduced you to the up and coming UK artist Delphic. You also had the chance to remix their song “Counterpoint.” Have a listen to some of the great remixes that were created OR give it a(nother) shot here.

Lucky for us, the Manchester boys have released another single called “This Momentary.” Check out this beautiful video for the song, shot by Dave Ma, which weaves together images shot in and around the Chernobyl area, documenting the place as it is now and portraying the lives of the people who still live there.

LA Friendly describes the song as “a subtly blissed out blast of euphoria that takes in both the crisp drive of minimal techno and the epic scope of bands like Muse or Radiohead to create something entirely their own and entirely new and beguiling.” Delphic wants to see what you can do with this song, so go get your remix on. It is chock full of pristine synth layers just begging to be picked apart and put back together. Really good stuff for remixing!

Delphic has loaded the stems to “This Momentary” into MixMatchMusic’s Remix Wizard, and has given you two options for making a remix: 1) You can download the stems for free and use any software you want; or 2) You can click on the MixMaker button on the widget to make a remix in MixMatchMusic’s simple online music editor. If you’ve never experienced remixing before, or just want to see how “The Momentary” was made, check out the MixMaker. Either way, make sure to you upload your remix to the widget so that others can listen to, vote on, and share it. We’ll pick our favorite remixes and feature them on Evolving Music!

Want more? Join the community, share your thoughts, and interact with other fans on their Facebook page. Want to see them live? Check their tour dates here.

If you haven’t heard yet, there is a phenomenon happening right now that warrants your immediate attention. King of the West Coast, Snoop Dogg, has teamed up with San Diego’s genre-bending Slightly Stoopid for a mind blowing collaboration. They’ve thrown modern reggae great (and son of Bob), Stephen Marley, and seedy pop newcomer, Mickey Avalon, into the mix too. What we have here folks is the Blazed and Confused Tour (don’t forget to become a fan on Facebook). Here’s a little sneak peek:

Rick Florino of Artist Direct notes that at the Irvine show “Snoop closed off a fantastic set chanting ‘Peace and Love.’ There was something very ‘Woodstock’ about the whole set… There’s no segregation at a Snoop Dogg show and he delivers something for everybody. What’s more rock n’ roll than that?”

Each of these artists/groups has a unique sound and message, and yet their vibe and mindset is one and the same. Bob probably summed it up best with “One Love.”

As part of the tour, Slightly Stoopid is hosting a remix contest for their song 2AM, a summertime reggae classic that will sooth your soul! Slightly Stoopid has loaded the stems to 2AM into MixMatchMusic’s Remix Wizard, and now all you pro and amateur musicians (and even nonmusicians) have the chance to create your own kickass remix of the song and share it with the world.

You have two options for making a remix: you can download the stems for free and use any software you want; or you can click on the MixMaker button on the widget to make a remix in MixMatchMusic’s simple online music editor. If you’ve never experienced remixing before, or just want to see how 2AM was made, check out the MixMaker! Either way, make sure to you upload your remix to the widget so that others can listen to, vote on, and share it. The contest starts July 15, 2009 at 2:00 AM and ends August 21, 2009.

There will be ONE winner picked by Slightly Stoopid, who will receive:

A set of the new Slightly Stoopid branded headphones, an autographed Stoopid poster, 2 tickets to the next Slightly Stoopid concert in your area, a limited edition Slightly Stoopid branded glass pipe, CDs of Slightly Stoopid’s entire discography & Chronichitis vinyl, and the Slightly Stoopid Live in San Diego DVD! Also – the winning remix might be posted for streaming on Slightly Stoopid’s Website, MySpace, thesixtyone, and Facebook (subject to Slightly Stoopid’s approval). Not bad, eh?

To get your creative juices flowing, here’s the official video for 2 a.m. Roll yourself a blunt and have a look and a listen. Then, enter the Blazed and Confused at 2AM Remix Contest here.

But that’s not all. He was a driving force behind Handsome Boy Modeling School, a hip-hop collaboration with Prince Paul that included guests such as Sean Lennon, Mike D of the Beastie Boys and Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto. He served as the producer for Kool Keith (Dr. Octagon) and DJ Qbert’s well-known album, Dr. Octagonecologyst. Add to that his credit as the main man behind Lovage, a collaboration between Kid Koala, Mike Patton of Faith No More and Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, and his full on production of Del the Funky Homosapien’s revolutionary concept album Deltron 3030 and you have one well established producer who has worked with some very big names.

Feeling left out because you haven’t gotten to collaborate with Dan the Automator? Fret not. For all you musicians and aspiring musicians, Dan the Automator has launched a remix contest for his 2009 remake of the Sugar Hill Gang’s hip-hop classic “Rapper’s Delight.” The new version features Domino and Casual (Hieroglyphics) and Charli 2Na from Jurassic 5. Simple to use from MixMatchMusic’s Remix Wizard, just download the stems to your computer and mix away. If you don’t have spiffy mixing software, worry not, as the Wizard allows you to remix on any computer through the web. The catch? The contest ends on Sunday the 14th, so you better get scratching!

Dan the Automator’s song here.

Remix Wizard for the contest here.

Reggae rock artist, Mojo Morgan, son of the legendary reggae artist Denroy Morgan, and member of Morgan Heritage, recently released his debut solo album, “got Mojo?“, on Gedion Soldiers/Keynote Records. Dub and Reggae calls it an “alternative rasta rock album infused with heavy reggae, hip hop, and R&B flavors” but also notes a “heavy dose of rock and soul to keep audiences grooving”. A big thank you to Giant Step for introducing us to this dynamic artist!

[N.B. If you google Mojo Morgan, you may notice that he could be easily confused with Tony "Mojo" Morgan, also referred to as The Hoochie Coochie Man. NOT the same dude.]

Among other accolades, Mojo was a featured artist for the Nike Women promo campaign. They used his track, “Tonight.”

Like it? Well, guess what? You can now remix that very track, “Tonight,” here! (Or look for the Remix Wizard on his MySpace page.) For remixing, you have two options: you can either download the stems for free and make a mix on your music software of choice, or you can make a mix online using the MixMaker. Either way, be sure to publish your remix to the widget for others to listen to, vote on, and share. Submit your remix by June 15, 2009 and you’re in the running to get an all expense paid trip to meet and hang out with Mojo Morgan at his next concert, and to have your remix featured on Mojo’s Myspace page and other site.

Here’s a little more Mojo to get your creative juices flowing:

Are you a fan yet? Why not make it official? Become a fan of Mojo Morgan on Facebook.

MixMatchMusic, in connection with Modern Beat Digital Records, Symphonic Distribution and Prime Loops, is proud to bring you the “Digital Dreams” remix competition. Remix this synth-house gem by June 30 and you’re in the running for a sound suite from Prime Loops and to have your remix released on Modern Beat Digital’s forthcoming release of the Modern Beat Orchestra’s Digital Dreams.

“We thought Digital Dreams by the Modern Beat Orchestra would be a fantastic track to feature for a remix competition,” said David Edward Jensen, president of Modern Beat Digital. “Between the spoken lyrics, female chant vocals and big basslines, the elements are there to make for some great remixes. We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.”

Modern Beat Digital is an independent record label based out of Asheville, North Carolina that focuses on providing top-quality dance music to the public by utilizing digital media downloads and a selection of file formats. Their mission is to release only the best in electronic dance music. They do this by combining excellent producers and artists with a dedicated marketing, promotion and distribution team. Modern Beat Digital is a subsidiary of Modern Beat Productions and recently partnered with Symphonic Distribution to offer digital distribution of their catalogue in all major online music retailers.

To participate in the remix compeition, check out the Digital Dreams Remix Wizard and start creating! You can either purchase the high quality stems for $12 or make your mix for free using the online MixMaker. Either way, be sure to publish your remix to the widget for others to enjoy. Now, get busy.

If the phrase “Death to Analog” rings a bell, it’s probably because February 17th of this year brought in the death of analog television. It’s also the name of the debut album of Julien-K, which was originally set to be released that same day (but was instead released on March 10th). Check out this great album review for more details.

Julien-K began as a side project for Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck from Orgy, and now includes Anthony Valcic, Brandon Belsky, Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park), and Elias Andra. According to myspace, they are “a remixing and production team, as well as two live bands – Julien-K and Dead by Sunrise”.

Check out their provocative “Kick The Bass” music video, “a hypnotic cornicopia of bondage, masochism, and cannibalism“, which was released on 2/27/09 (the original album release date) on playboy.com’s cyberclub.

Good stuff right? Now you can throw your own style into the pot. Remix “Kick the Bass” here. The winning remix will be featured and available for download on JulienK.com and JulienK’s MySpace, and the winner will receive a signed guitar from Julien-K!

Have you heard the driving electronic sounds of the band Delphic? If not, add them to your list of music to check out. Their band name was enough to pique my interest. Why the Greek reference? Why ambiguous or obscure? Why did they pick it…?

Then you hear their music and the intrigue grows. At times paying homage to fellow countrymen and musical pioneers, New Order, or other greats, and at times creating an experience completely their own, Delphic is poised to make some serious noise in the musical landscape of 2009. So, it seems, say the oracles of the dancefloor.

Also, the “forward-thinking, indie-rave” sound of the “best new band in Manchester” is now yours to remix! Yep, they’ve got a Remix Wizard for you to play with, so get to it. Check out the remixes done so far and/or make your own here!

The young band is releasing their single “Counterpoint” on Belgium’s R&S label. Though fairly new to the scene, they are already opening for the likes of Bloc Party and The Streets. Not bad for a band still in their musical diapers. Check out the “Counterpoint” video, which was produced by Ewan Pearson, who will be working with the Delphic boys on their debut album.

John Brown’s Body is an eight piece “modern reggae” band that has been playing its way around the country for the last 10 years, during which time they also released six studio albums. In that time, they endured more hardships than most bands should have to face in a lifetime, including the death of a bassist, departure of several original band members and throat surgery for the lead singer for vocal polyps. Perhaps all this real life strife and the revolving door of musical influence in the group is what spawned their unique style. Although their original sound was fairly true to traditional reggae stylings, as the band evolved their sound became more futuristic.

Check out their sound for yourself on their MySpace page. If you’re really ahead of the game you may have already gotten their newest album Re-Amplify (Easy Star Records), which debuted exclusively on iTunes on March 3rd (full release coming on March 17th). Like what you hear? Make your own remix of the song “Zion Triad” using the Remix Wizard on their Myspace page or in the MixMatchMusic Remix Wizard gallery).

Ladies and gentlemen, get your remixing chops ready. Starting Saturday (Feb. 28), Pepper is inviting you to make your own musical masheries of their song “Freeze”!

While Pepper originally hails from Hawaii, they now bring you their fresh mix of reggae, rock, and punk straight from sunny southern California. No, I’m not talking about Sublime here, but rather, the evolution of the brah brah music that they gave birth to. Pepper’s sound takes you from rum-fueled reggae party jams to warm coastal pop that makes you feel like you’re summertime chillin’ no matter the season. Freeze is a song from the latest Law Records release, “Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations“, which was produced by Sublime producer and former Butthole Surfer Paul Leary.

Pepper has loaded the stems to Freeze into their Remix Wizard and now wants to hear what you can do! You have two options for making a remix: you can download the stems for free and use any software you want; or you can click on the widget’s MixMaker link to make a remix in MixMatchMusic’s simple online music editor. If you’ve never experienced remixing before, or just want to see how Freeze was made, check out the MixMaker! Either way, make sure to you upload your remix to the widget so that others can listen to, vote on, and share it.

The Freeze remix contest runs from February 28 to March 28 (2009), and Pepper will hand pick three winners. If you win the grand prize, you get two VIP passes to the next Pepper show in your hometown for your friends, and the chance to shadow Pepper’s sound engineer for the day (from load in to load out at a show in your hometown). How cool is that!

The grand prize winner will also receive the T-RackS 3 Deluxe Mastering Suite and AmpliTube Fender® (courtesy of IK Multimedia); a Law Records backpack full of Pepper swag; one pair of SkullCandy headphones; an autographed photo of Pepper; their remix featured on Pepper’s myspace; and their remix released on an upcoming album from Law Records. The first runner up will receive a copy of AmpliTube Fender from IK Multimedia, and the second runner up will get a copy of the T-RackS 3 Standard Mastering Suite from IK Multimieda. Both runner up winners will also receive two VIP passes to the next Pepper show in their hometown; a Law Records backpack full of Pepper swag; their remix featured on Pepper’s myspace; and an autographed photo of band.

So what are you waiting for, brah? Enter the Freeze remix contest here! And, look out for Evolving Music’s interview with Pepper early next week.

Bay Area hip-hop duo Zion I is well known over the course of their discography for exploring musical sounds and genres not typically associated with the sounds of the streets. Zumbi’s introspective and intellectually based lyrics have found an excellent match in the musically curious mind of AmpLive, who aside from remixing Radiohead’s In Rainbows album has brought soul, funk, electro, house and rock vibes to hip-hop in a way that makes Zion I both incredible and enlightening to listen to.

Silent on the discography front since their 2006 collaboration with The Grouch, Zion I has poised themselves for a new group release, their first since they brought the Japanese only release Break A Dawn over the Pacific for a stateside release in ‘06. Their new album, The Take Over, is scheduled to drop next Tuesday, and in keeping with their format of engaging their fans and examining ways to evolve their own music in our current remix culture, they have launched a remix contest for one of the tracks off the new album, “DJ DJ.”

Today, Zion I released their stems from “DJ DJ” to the general public, using MixMatchMusic’s simple Remix Wizard. If you’re an audio wiz already, just download the stems and work them out, but even for those with less musical experience or musicians not interested in downloading the stems, the MixMatch wizard provides the stems and the mixing interface to make this contest accessible to anyone with a computer. What’s excellent about the format here is that it doesn’t require any previous experience, as the wizard is very intuitive and easy to use.

Finish your remix and upload it by March 12th and you’re in the running for some excellent prizes, including a spot for your remix on Zion I’s Myspace page and lots of great Zion I stuff for the winners. For more information or to enter the contest, click here.

The Metermaids, made of up emcees Swell and Sentence, have embraced the small space that exists at the intersection of underground hip hop and indie rock. The irresistable energy of their live shows during the last two years of touring has generated quite a bit of buzz that continues to grow with the release of their album, “Nightlife”, on which many of the songs seem to have been mixed with a live performance vibe in mind.

Instead of just releasing an album, however, the Metermaids have taken it one step further. They created “Nightlife in Illinoise”, a mashup of “Nightlife” and Sufjan Stevens‘ critically acclaimed concept album “Illinoise”. You can download it for free here. Antimusic deems it “a lush album that highlights the strange folky eccentricities of Stevens and the earnest lyrics and creative production of the Metermaids” and Prefix Magazine says “the result is slightly disorienting, but a totally new way to listen to both albums”. I say remixing and mashup culture is blowing up and these guys are an inspiration to all the DIY musicians and genre-bending artists out there.

You can make your own remix of their title song, “Nightlife” on the Remix Wizard found on their MySpace page. Not only is this an awesome way to experience their music on a new level, but you can also win stuff. The winner gets a free copy of Reason 4 by Propellerhead Software, the track offered as a free download on iTunes, and a featured spot on the Metermaids’ MySpace. Pretty sweet.

Watch the video below to get to know Swell and Sentence a little better.

Now go get your remix on! And while you’re at it, check out the other artists using the Remix Wizard here.

Andrew Robert Nielsen (aka MC Lars), is the self-proclaimed originator of “post-punk laptop rap”. Post-pu-what? Not something most people are familiar with… But that’s the way it goes when you’re a pioneer in your space. Wikipedia describes his unique style as follows: “With a punk rock band set to back him up, MC Lars plays a hip-hop set to a true punk rock background (a joining which he refers to as “post-punk laptop rap”). His bandmates play live over the samples and loops contained in his recorded music – all stored on his laptop computer.” Some would say his music also falls under the larger umbrella genre of “nerdcore“.

MC Lars epitomizes what we’re talking about when we shower praise on all the DIY musicians out there, determined to stay true to their art and not succumb to the temptations of going mainstream for the sake of appealing to the masses – and using the wonders of the internet to do so. MC Lars can be found on the web at:

Website | MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Blog

He considers himself a part of the iGeneration, “a group born and raised in the time of the Ninja Turtles, cassette tapes and new wave music, who now live in the age of Gossip Girls, iPhones and screamo bands” (read more of his bio here).

Besides being a talented musician, MC Lars also does comics and podcasts. Oh, and he owns his own record label. Because, you know, he “sees little need for the traditional label trappings and would rather storm his own trail through the Internet”. Atta boy.

In storming that trail, he has boldly embraced the growing trend of engaging fans by letting them interact with his music and the culture created around it. Be part of that culture now, by remixing some of his stems. Download the stems and remix in your own software or use the online MixMaker to piece together your song, then upload back to the Wizard for others to listen to, vote on and share. (Check out more artists to remix here).

For those of you who don’t yet know of Camp Lo, it’s time you familiarize yourself with this kickass hip hop duo. Let’s get that out of the way right now.

Official Site
Wikipedia
MySpace
Urban Dictionary

Saladine T. Wilds and Salahadeen T. Wallace (yes, they have variations of the same name) were destined for collaboration it seemed and over the last decade have created a style all their own that is rife with Blaxploitation lyrics and a sound that pays homage to soul, funk and R&B greats of the 70s. Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede, as they’re known now, have worked with a number of other hip hop hotshots including Ski, who produced their debut album Uptown Saturday Night, De La Soul’s Trugoy, and Digable Planets‘ Butterfly.

Lucky for you fans, they’ve now agreed to open the door for you! So get on their Remix Wizard and make your own remix of Camp Lo’s song, “Lumdi”! You can find it on their MySpace page (on the left side) or in the Remix Wizard gallery.

Can’t get enough? Here’s an interview from ArtofRhyme and the video of their song, “Luchini”.

Two assholes with microphones or… Bill and Andrew. However you address them they’re a rather new underground podcast based out of DC and they’re funny as hell. They met about 4 years ago, hit it off and have been bickering at each other ever since. Bill and Andrew are in their second season of their podcast. In show 2.4 they unleashed a theme song contest hosted by MixMatchMusic’s Remix Wizard. The big prize?? Bragging rights and a nifty and very rare Bill and Andrew Show t-shirt. Observe…

Thanks to OnTapOnline for the picture!

Think you have what it takes to create a catchy theme song for the show? There are one of 2 ways you can participate.

1) If you have audio editing tools we suggest downloading the stems from the widget, mixing your own song and uploading it to Bill and Andrew’s “Theme Show Contest” widget. Take a listen to the songs already submitted to the “Theme Show Contest” on the front page of Bill and Andrew’s web site as well as on the front page of MixMatchMusic.com and the Remix Wizard gallery.

2) Go to Bill and Andrew’s profile on MixMatchMusic.com. Check out their uploaded content. Add it to the MixMaker. Collaborate with other artists to make a theme song. Download it and upload the song to the contest widget. This is what I did. Check it out HERE.

Good luck… happy mixing!!

Join B&A on Facebook.

To listen to episode 2.4 when the contest was introduced.

To listen to my favorite episode with Paul “The Man on the Street.”

If you missed the boat and were not one of the lucky collaborators on the remix CD, you have another chance to play with D2D’s music. Check out the Remix Wizard on their myspace page to create your own remix of their song “Apples”. (Or go to the Remix Wizard gallery to see all the available wizards.) If you are a musician and have the stems to one of your songs, you can create your own Wizard here.

Delhi 2 Dublin is a great example of what many of us expect to see happening more often in the future. Not only have they embraced several sub-categories within the world music genre and fused them together seamlessly, but they are also taking advantage of the many tools available to musicians online these days in terms of remixing, online distribution and promotion, and social networking. Expect great things from these guys!

Underground hip hop artist, HMD, who recently released his debut album One Pursuit, is known for his collaborations, having worked with the likes of Masta Ace, Wordsworth, R.A the Rugged Man, Reef the Lost Cauze, Baby Blak, and many others. Now he wants to work with you!

You can remix several of HMD’s tracks (“Mummers Beat Down”, “Old Records”, and “Imma Make It”) here. Click on any of the widgets by HMD, download the stems and remix in your own audio editing software OR use the online MixMaker. Once you upload your remix back to the widget, others can listen to, vote on, and share your remix. Check it out!

Besides having a knack for deftly arranging collaborations with other artists, HMD is also known for his sampling. Digging up dusty records and identifying old school sounds that blend magically with his beats gives him a unique sound. Apparently the guy is a master turntablist too. For more on One Pursuit, check out the review on Hip-Hop Linguistics.

As you may have noticed, Evolving Music has begun covering bands that use the Remix Wizard to engage their fans, starting with The Bayliens. Set up your own widget here and we may feature you on this blog.

Well now, the TMTS boys want you to remix “Yucatan Gold”! Moonbeams is a rich indie blend of textures that range from indie pop, to psych-folk and art rock. Yucatan Gold takes the album into an electronic direction, and proves to be the album’s edgiest track. Full of drum machines, synths, and industrial lap-top layers, parts of the song are reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails, while others are what Weezer would song like if they went electro (do it!). What will your remix sound like?

TMTS recently dropped a video for Yucatan Gold (see below), and they are currently on tour. Be sure to check them out in your town so that you can pick up their new Purpleface EP, which you can only get on tour.

Go here to download the stems to Yucatan Gold, or to make remixes in the online MixMaker. When you’re done, be sure to upload your remix for others to check out! Or, just go listen to, vote on, and share the remixes.

The Bayliens: Enzyme Dynamite (left) & Jay Three (right)

For those of you who haven’t been around the Bay Area hip hop scene recently, it’s safe to say the Bayliens have landed. Since dropping their debut release “Crop Circles” over a year ago, their incessant touring and energy on stage have made them one of the bay’s most loved artists. Now they’re following the footsteps of bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails by releasing stems for others to remix. Click here to download the stems for free, or to make a remix in the web-based MixMaker.

Produced by Dublin Beats, Crop Circles is an accessible mosaic of hiphop sounds fused with an electronic and often futuristic twist. The song features vocalist Cait La Dee, who teams up with Enzyme Dynamite and Jay Three to deliver an instant west coast classic! Get a feel for who the Bayliens are by tuning in to their “Zany 360″ radio show on Fuzic.

To check out, vote on, and grab submitted remixes of Bubble Gum, go here. While you’re there, try making your own mix using the online MixMaker.