CS Quarantine #2: Printing Postage and Shipping from Home

Alright... so in the second installment of these quarantine blog posts I will be covering how one may go about fulfilling shipping from home (in the United States). What I am about to share should be beneficial DIYers of all kinds (artists, bands, labels, your mom, whatever).

Stamps.com 
Alright so this is the first destination I came to when I searched something like "print shipping at home." It wasn't really the move for me because there's a decent subscription fee and that does not vibe with us being a  s m a l l  operation, $17 dollars a month on top of cost of shipping items...  yuck.  However, I will say that this is a pretty robust solution that has great integrations with a bunch of stores and software If you already have a ton going on as a business/artist, this solution may be for you. They have a 60-day trial where you can test it out. This comes with a promotion to get a discounted sale for the cost of shipping (lol $9.99 is too much... they lying lmaoo), which is nice depending on what you need. Check it out here.

PayPal
Many people use PayPal for their online shops. Turns out that they already have functionality built in on their site to buy and print individual shipping labels. Super simple. Works great. Definitely look into it. They also have media mail options, which is great for music (vinyl, cd, cassette, zines, other print media). Access their shipping label page right here.

Pirate Ship
Alright the good ol' Twitter-net came through again. Ian from Howardian (peep their music video on the blog) and Japanther suggested I check out Pirate Ship. I headed over to their site, and it was love at first sight. This service is completely FREE (besides paying for postage of course).  Below I will run through some shipping label creation, printing, and scheduling mail pickup. In addition to manual label creation, you can also upload a spreadsheet and indicate what fields you want to import. It's incredibly user friendly.

Go to Pirate Ship, make an account, and configure your payment information. After selecting "Create a Single Label" you will be directed to a page where you can insert ship from/to addresses, specify package dimensions, and indicate any special handling. This page allows users to create both domestic + international labels! (Haven't tried out international yet, but I have to do so soon!) The coolest part about this is that you can just copy/paste an address and it will automatically fill out individual fields!

Alright Priority Shipping boxes and such are a joke. Do not pay for those rates! Use your own boxes and envelopes instead. However, if you do not ship often, I get if you are just going with Post Office materials. You can get mailers in bulk for vinyl, tapes, and CD as well.

After selecting your packaging and specifying it's size, you can select media mail at the bottom of the screen before calculating rates. If you do not have a scale to weigh packages, I'd recommend this one I got this weekend. This is crucial, and will save you some cashhhh over time. Here is a guide for what USPS considers to be media mail.

Say you are shipping many of the same thing over time... be sure to "Save Package" so you have a shipping profile of this type of order that you can quickly repeat over time.

Alright... after hitting "Get Rates" you'll be brought to a page where you can select from a bunch of different shipping options. It's awesome. A tracking code is then made available after purchase, which is then activated when it is picked up or dropped off at your local post office location. You can send that to your customers

Before printing right away. I'd make sure that you have at least 2 labels created so that you can fit 2 on a page. Shoutout if you have one of those special label printers. I do not haha. Go back to the home page, select your orders, and print away.

So once you have the labels and your packages all ready to go, you can either drop off at your post office or schedule a pickup. I did not know that you could even schedule pickup until now. To do that, select all the packages you want to send (like you were printing labels again), and then hit "Schedule Pickup."

With the number that is generated, you can go over to the USPS site (CLICK HERE) and add more information with what to do when they come to pick up your orders. Be sure to select "Modify an Existing Pickup." You can also change the day of the pickup and more. All you have to do is put in your confirmation number from Pirate Ship and a phone number/email.

Okay. That is all I really have to share about shipping. I think many of you can take it from here, but before I go on my way, I want to shed light on the fact that there are many existing integrations that may work with your ecommerce site (Big Cartel, Etsy, Shopify, Discogs, etc.). Definitely look into that if you work with any of those store platforms. Maybe one day we can have a Bandcamp integration ;) 

Although this just skims the surface of shipping and such, I hope this is still helpful to many of you. Be safe. Cheers.

- Connor


 P.S. Are you looking for some new music to spin during your quarantine??? Check out some Crafted Sounds artists on Bandcamp and Spotify. Here are some of our recent releases:

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CS Quarantine #1: How to Go Live on Instagram from Your Laptop or Desktop

Alright... shit is weird. Hope y'all are holding up well during this quarantine mess. We (Crafted Sounds) aren't big cheese or anything lol, but I kinda want to take this time to share some things that may be useful to DIY artists, labels, promoters, and other tangential people in the arts. I suppose between work and zoom classes and all, I will post a couple more blogs like this one that I am about to get into. Before I do that, I just ask that y'all stay tf inside and wash yo damn hands. Thank you :) 

Live streamingggggggggg. People love this shit. It is all we can do, so why not get good at it while you have the time. Instagram is like crack for anyone who consumes any form of media. Unlimited scrolling, tons of engagement, stories better than Snapchat, and now LIVE STREAMING. I know my phone battery sucks. I also hate trying to prop my phone up when I do not have a nice holder or whatever people have, so I went on Google and found something that works for my laptop.

There's 2 things you'll need, both of which are compatible with Windows and Mac:

Yellow Duck (Download)
OBS (Download)

1. Download Yellow Duck, and open it up. It may crash the first time because there may be updates that are needed beyond the initial install. When I opened the application the second time it worked just fine. Put in your login information for your Instagram account and indicate what story preferences you'll want (enabling comments, save your IG live stream). You'll then be presented with a screen that gives you a server URL and a Stream Key. Stop here and go open OBS.

2. After downloading OBS, you'll want to do a couple of housekeeping things. Add sources for audio and video by clicking the plus sign underneath the "Sources" tab on the bottom left. Resize the video your capturing and center it by clicking in the top left Edit > Transform > Center to Screen (or Ctrl + D). Be sure to click the video frame first to get a red border before using a transform command. You basically just need to click it to identify what object you are centering/moving. You can lock your video frame in place after you move it in case you have a cat or something that may walk on your laptop as you're performing, talking, etc.

You can plug in a better camera or mic. to meet your needs. Those things that can really elevate the quality of your content. I'd assume you'd just plug in whatever device you want to use and then configure it in the "Sources" tab again as you did to find your computer's camera and microphone.

3. GO LIVE. Click File > Settings > Stream to get to a window where you can insert the credentials we got in Yellow duck earlier. Insert and apply those credentials and hit Start Streaming in the bottom right corner of the window. (and Start Recording if you want to save your stream on your desktop).

You won't be able to see that you're live on your account on your phone, so I monitored the stream via my personal account (not the label account) while I was live to make sure things were running right. It may be good practice to check in on there from time to time to make sure you sound okay and that your connection is still good because this method does not have any monitoring capability really.

4. When your done, simply hit "Stop Streaming" in OBS and then "Save & Finish" in Yellow Duck.

Hope this helps. I was not trying to throw money at anything, and I am sure most of y'all feel the same as I do, given the current situation. Stay safe + party on (inside by yourself or with your quarantine crew).

- Connor


P.S. Are you looking for some new music to spin during your quarantine??? Check out some Crafted Sounds artists on Bandcamp and Spotify. Here are some of our recent releases:

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Pat Coyle - "Long Soft Life"

There are few artists that trigger a level of introspection like Pat Coyle. Upon hearing his new single "Long Soft Life" I was shook to the core. The blissful combination of careful drum work, lo-fi sampling, and uniquely captivating vocals really sent me home. I say home specifically in regards to the audio samples pulled from a home video at the end of the track. The song is a incredibly intimate piece that, if listened to with undivided attention, will send you on a trip through childhood memories both vivid and vague. It was a very good trip for me.

I guess I (21) am really one of the last of a generation whose parents used a big camcorder to capture family events and important childhood moments. There was a greater purpose and a dedication to remembrance and appreciation of such happenings in the era before smartphones, etc. that made it possible to record so easily. For me at least, when looking back on old videos of myself alongside relatives, you can see the efforts that went into making it work for you, your siblings, cousins, grandparents, etc. Buried beneath those familiar smiles of your elders there are anxieties and fears of challenges life presents, but everyone puts that aside for these moments that mattered the most. For some reason grainy video and audio captures those times best in a fleeting, deteriorating fashion.

"I love you"... "I miss you"... *laughter* ... "Happy birthday, Pop Pop"... weaved in between dings and keys struck me in such a profound way. By the end of the track I felt as if my mind was just a tape rewinding and fast-forwarding in a loop through "the memories I love" and "the memories I hate." I think what I found the most interesting about the track is that although there is a emphasized link to the past in the lyrics and dialogue, I felt that "Long Soft Life" hinted to the future and what that holds, which is lovely and terrifying at the same time.

Per what I have been told, Pat Coyle expands upon the what was documented in "Long Soft Life" in a collection of related songs. On his upcoming EP Iridescent Cue (Out August 23), Pat explores emotional growth through the visions of a 1993 home video that set in Yardley, PA, which explains the audio bits you heard in this tracks. It is through these joyous scenes and palpable connections with loved ones, Pat thinks deeper and wonders how much these experiences have fed into a current misplacement of identity.

Pat will relocating to LA in September. Pittsburgh will miss him for his vision, kindness, and creative influence on others. His contributions to other projects like IT IT, Blød Maud, Soft Gondola, and others are definitely works that should not go unrecognized or unappreciated. I'll never forget when he hopped on stage during the Bat Zuppel MIRROR|RORRIM release and howled during "The Witch" or some other song. I was like, yup, this guy has it. It was only later that I started piecing together the other things he had been a part of. I caught a set of his earlier this summer, and I can say with confidence that this next EP will hold up well. I am excited to see what is next for Mr. Coyle.

You can catch his EP release show on Friday, August 23 at The Government Center, my favorite record store in the city, where he'll be supported by Natural Rat (WV), Anthony Heubel and the High Lonesome Band, and The Childlike Empress.


RIYL: Atlas Sound, Palm, IT IT, Panda Bear, home videos, the human experience, existential dread
Hot Take: Call your relatives and tell them you love them.

Follow Pat Coyle

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | EP Release Show

Writen by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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Us and Us Only - "My Mouth (Alternate)"

It's funny. Years ago I remember discovering Us and Us Only through the strange workings of the internet as I was not old enough to go to certain shows in Baltimore. The iconic paper bag that would front their EP Bored Crusader would go on to be one of my favorite pieces of artwork that I'd seen in music. I'd eventually catch the group at Metro Gallery when I was home from college. Theatrical and professional, I found Us and Us Only to be a rather remarkable force through the carefully plotted ambiance they create. Thinking about that time now makes me laugh as I never would have thought that I would cross paths with the group, but here we are sharing a new track for you to spin.

Us and Us Only is getting ready to release Two Songs this Friday, a chilled-out piece that revisits their past record, and looks onward to future works. Today we are sharing one of those songs. Included below is an exclusive stream of an alternate version "My Mouth" from Full Flower. Whispering vocals and soft strumming complemented by lush synths and a mechanical clap/tick combo of sorts came together nicely on this track.

I almost feel like this is what would play in a dream... An introspective dream where I would find a miniature version of myself sitting within something like a bookshelf clock. Just seems right. I'd find myself watching time physically pass by as I sort through my past... A numbing experience for sure.

Anyway... I never would have imagined this song this way, but I sincerely enjoyed it nonetheless. While listening to this rendition of "My Mouth" I had the opportunity to throw some Q's at Kinsey of UAUO.

--

CS: Are you still based in Baltimore? Growing up around there I have had my fair share of favorites (Future Islands, Goblin Mold, Wildhoney)... what are some bands you either used to look up to or currently admire?

  

UAUO: We're a Baltimore band through and through. Kinsey (hi, that's me) lives in Brooklyn at the moment, but lived in Baltimore for about 10 years before moving. As far as favorites around the city, there are so many artists that we love. Goblin Mold (RIP), who you mentioned, are a classic right up there with our pals in Sun Club. Nina Gala is one of the best songwriters in the world. Lefty Bey is a legend in the making. Joy Postell, Surf Harp, JPEG, June Pastel, Abdu Ali, these folks are putting unique, immensely important and wonderful art out into the world.    

CS: You characterize your recent record Full Flower (2017) as "the band’s best impression of waking up to (and running out of) a house on fire, grabbing what means the most to them on the way out." As you revisit this piece, what memories stand out from the time of that release? 

UAUO: That's a tough one. It's probably obvious that joy is not a big factor in any of those songs, so the record was my way of processing those experiences and trying to come out of it softer, hopefully a little more wise, having learned how to treat other people and myself with more love and care. Putting it out felt like a breath of fresh air, closing a chapter, and that's my most valued memory (or feeling) from that time.

CS: Speaking on things of importance and prioritizing, what do you enjoy doing outside of music? Are there things you when do you when you step away from a song that may not be coming along as you'd like?

UAUO: I used to drop songs or sit on them for years when they weren't coming along, but I'm much better at finishing things these days. Beyond music though, I try to make time to read books or comics every day. Also, playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching Star Trek, nerd shit. Generally though, music occupies all of my time - writing, recording, talking about it, trying to stay current with the endless stream of wonderful albums coming out. Sean and Nick are workaholics, they're always on some new recording or video project. Mike is a D&D nerd these days, too. Everything comes back to music though.

Photo by Kiersten Ladzinski

CS: Now how does Two Songs extend the message of Full Flower (outside of remixing songs on the record)? No record is perfect, but were there some ideas that you definitely held onto for a future release?  

UAUO: When I had originally written and demoed "My Mouth", it sounded more like a Grouper song - very sparse, ghostly. After we released Full Flower, we had a few opportunities to play some low key shows - not acoustic necessarily, but stripped down. We ended up really enjoying working with those limitations, so we decided to take a second run at "My Mouth". We all sat in a room with a few Casio keyboards and just kinda went at it. Thus ends the "chill" era of UAUO, the next record will be full of feedback, sass, and Pile-worship.

CS: How did the of "Veiled/Forming" by White Wreath (Han Offman of High Bloom) come together? Do you see Us and Us Only ever exploring a sound with more electronic assistance in the future? (This song will be available on Friday via streaming services!) 

UAUO: We've known Han for a while now and knew that he had been working on music for a few years. I played a show with him and was just humbled at how talented he was. Whenever I make music, it's so ingrained in my being that I have to share it with everyone whereas Han just kinda chills on it and is like, oh I made this dope song. So I think I asked him if he was interested in remixing a song, we sent him a few to work with and he ended up on "Veiled / Forming" and turned it into something that feels brand new. I keep calling it "gentle-industrial".

There is lore of a House remix of a song from our first record, maybe "Dark House", according to our old guitarist, Dan Windsor. I don't know if it truly exists, but I'd love to hear it if it is a thing. Otherwise, we're always interested in expanding our sound to include more electronic or programmed elements. This project started a long time ago with me just playing acoustic guitar and now there are four immeasurably talented folks that all work together to make these songs into more than I ever could've imagined, so the short answer is that any new direction is a possibility if it feels good to us.

Two Songs is out everywhere on Friday, April 19 | Cover Art by Nick Hughes

CS: Why release this now? What is next?

UAUO: We tend to hibernate between albums, so when we realized that we had these two songs we were really proud of and excited about, we figured that they would be a nice tonal bridge between Full Flower and the new album. Plus, most of our releases have been uptempo, rock songs. It felt natural to step back and view things from a different angle without the risk of doing it for an entire album and risk missing the mark.

CS: What is one record you have been spinning a lot lately? What is one release you are really excited about?

UAUO: It is so hard to pick just one! I think I've listened to Nilüfer Yanya's Miss Universe every day since it came out a few weeks ago. I can't wait for Lolo Zouaï's album to come out. That's going to be a lovely soundtrack to the summer.

CS: Where is one place you’d love to play one day? 

UAUO: I would love to play in the middle of the woods somewhere. Doesn't matter where. Or one of those festivals in Iceland where they have hot springs and everyone is dressed like an extra in a Sigur Ros video. Have you ever seen that island that Bjork lives on? I want to play there. That's my final answer. Bjork's island.

--

Alright... so there you have it. A little deep dive into the mind of Kinsey from Us and Us Only to  complement your early listen to the alternate version of "My Mouth" before it hits streaming with the remix of "Veiled/Forming" this Friday (April 19). Be sure to follow them online for updates, and until next time, keep listening to, sharing, and supporting music you care about. Have a nice day. 

Here is the original track from Full Flower if you want to experience both versions!

Follow Us and Us Only

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp

Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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All People - "Shattered Symbol"

Working in a creative head space is something special. It's a blessing. It's a curse. It is sure as hell not for the masses. Fortunately, I think creative people, especially those working in and around independent musicians and industry folk, meet plenty of others doing great things for similar reasons. I got an email today, and as you could assume I was late on getting back to them. I explained my situation (work, school, label, blah blah blah...) and they responded back, "No worries my friend! Keep fighting the good fight." It's hard out here, but hey, at the end of the day, we are going to do what it takes to make the music right and try to have fun doing it. It only becomes easier to get lost in this great mess when your friends are right there with you. Sitting here with this single in hand really made me realize... ya know what... All People and Community Records are really out here fighting the good fight.

All People is a band of friends that formed 7 years ago. It was a project that had simple, yet solid intentions: tour frequently, release great records, and overall just focus on being a band. After 7 years of really exceeding those goals, this story has come to a close. And that is OK. To tie a nice bow around music, friendship, and good times, All People have assembled their fourth and final record, Do This Again Tomorrow. Today we are sharing single "Shattered Symbol" ahead of the full release on April 26 and we could not be more excited!

Channeling an optimistic tone in eerie circumstances, keys shimmer in a rather suspect opening. What has happened? What is going to happen? "Shattered Symbol" goes on to tell a tale of what simply did not work out between two individuals. The track throws the listener for a loop, as people are jerked around in the final moments of a relationship that was once maybe, just maybe "right." After a noisy punk intervention, I envision someone pacing around a room as they come to terms with the situation at hand. An abrupt breakdown, and a sludgy bass, set the stage for a voice of harsh reality that builds to an emotional climax. Guitar rushes underneath smashing drum symbols, bringing us to the end of a road of what was an interstate. Don't drive too fast. You may forget to slow down.

But yeah... back to the full record... Like any project, you can get caught up in "success" or numbers or whatever, but that really is not what it is all about sometimes. As the release approaches, and the emotions pour, Greg Rodrigue of All People and co-founder of prestigious DIY label, Community Records (Pope, Nova One, Slingshot Dakota), has gone on record to say:

Abandoning concern as to what a listener might think of the band or our music, finally gave us the space and freedom to create the most accurate representation of what I had hoped the band (and my relationship with music) would be at its inception. I’m really proud of this last record. I think we figured out how to be a “band” just in time to stop touring and stuff, lol. I am incredibly appreciative of the other folks in the project. They have become some of my best friends on the planet, and we’ve grown a lot together. 

People have responsibilities to cater to. Personal or professional, these things can change people and occupy their time for the better or worse. However, there are still bands like All People that stick around, regardless of how life happens around them. A group of friends who would round out a late night practice after work with the same thing in mind, "Hey. Let's do this again tomorrow," that is quite special. I believe it when Greg says this is the group's best work. Satisfaction definitely peaks when the ride is just a great as the finale. All People are finishing right where they want to... with each other.

The final album release show will be May 4th at Gasa Gasa for the Community Records 11-Year Anniversary. LP pre-orders are live! A few other singles are also available for you to listen to! The record looks/sounds great, so get on that! They are also making 20 page retrospective risograph print books which feature every show they've ever played for the first 75 pre-orders. Seems like a must-cop for Community Records stans.

PREORDER DO THIS AGAIN TOMORROW ON VINYL

COMMUNITY RECORDS 11 YEAR SHOW

Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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Harvey Waters - 'Soft'

This review has been a long time coming. Kinda crazy how life picks up and slows downs in mysterious ways. Fortunately, it is the time of year the kids call "Spring Break." Blessup. Anyway... self-described "Dreamo" band, Harvey Waters, just dropped their new record Soft a couple of weeks ago, and I'm here to make sure you get hip to it.

The record opens with a smooth buildup of guitar, vocal layering, and a nice drizzle of synth-work. Track one, "Taste," really put me in a good state of the mind from the very beginning of my listen. At first I would have said that this should have ended the record, but I do not think I would have it any other way as it leads perfectly into "Progress", a beautiful slacker pop track. This track in particular is aided heavily Grace McElhone's harmonizing vocals that sit just right. "Dreamo" sets in here with these two wonderfully put together desperation songs. 

Drifting further into this record, listeners bump into the rather welcoming drumming in "Drip." This is probably my favorite song on the record for just that reason. To my surprise, the track was shorter than I anticipated, despite the slightly slower tempo. I would come to peace with the abrupt ending as I thought through the following interlude track, "Needles." I have mixed feelings about placing pauses in records because I am not sure if they are always appropriate, but I liked this one and the one that precedes the final track on this record. I felt "Needles" served as a clear divide in songwriting on this record since b-side, if you will, is a little louder, cleaner, and confident.

The remaining tracks are not as washy as the others. They focus on sharper vocals and raw instrumentation. They stand together well in their own way as they do not fade into one another in the same fashion of earlier tracks. "Cracker" hits a little bit of that fuzzy, noisy element. "Pulling Teeth" is a wholesome breakdown that features help from Frankie (aka stolenchaptick) of Deadplant Records. The final track, "Buried," howls into space and concludes with twinkling piano and synth.

Harvey Waters has found a sound that works for them perfectly on Soft. Their emotional, jangle-heavy appeal crosses many sub-genres rooted in the worldwide DIY community. Be on the lookout for a show of theirs if you reside in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area. Soft is out now everywhere. This full record is worth your time. Spin it now. 

RIYL: Swings, Alex G, Strange Ranger, Spencer Radcliffe

Favorite Tracks: Progress, Drip, Inside 

Hot Take: Harvey Waters is your next hangover cure. 

Follow Harvey Waters

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Streaming

Writen by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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Goodnight Daniel - "Mountain"

Inspired by jazz and Brazilian music, songwriter and guitarist Brett Jones makes quiet rock songs that moves listeners. "Mountain" in particular was composed intentionally "with lots of space... to invite you to focus on finding little magic moments" according to Jones. His method is quite effective. I was hooked immediately by his gentle strumming and soft vocals in the beginning. The end of "Mountain" took me home, if you will, as keys trickled between the drumming in the background. All in all, this is a great track and a great sign for the future for Goodnight Daniel (Richmond, VA). They are set to release their debut 4-track EP on March 1 on digital and cassette formats via Sad Cactus Records. Give "Mountain" a spin today.



RIYL: Horse Jumper of Love, Hovvdy, Crumb, Twain

Follow Goodnight Daniel

Facebook | Cassette Preorder

Writen by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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Lo Haze - "Cosmonaut"

You told yourself to get up and go for a run. You were very close to staying bed, but here you are trotting along. For some reason the gap in winter extremities is rather nice. It sure helps when it is above freezing. Some time into your run it starts to rain, and you hit your stride. You look up and the sun breaks the horizon as droplets of water kiss your forehead and proceed to run down your face. Don't get me wrong... you are gassed as fuck, but this is not so bad after all. I'd imagine that the music that would fit naturally in that moment of cardiovascular humility would be "Cosmonaut," a new track from LA act Lo Haze. "Cosmonaut' is a powerful, deeply emotional track that reminds one what it is like to be human. It encourages one to reach for new heights with rather intense streaks of guitar and enchanting vocals.

Lo Haze is just getting started after recently coming together last year. Their debut EP is set for release this Thursday on streaming services and they have a EP release show planned on February 22 in LA as well. Get hip to Lo Haze and spin this single ASAP.

RIYL: No Vacation, Beach House

Follow Lo Haze: 

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | EP Release Show - 2/22

Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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High Sunn - 'Our Perception'

High Sunn is a honest, raw dream-pop act from San Francisco, CA. Emerging over the years as a lo-fi bedroom project, Justin Cheromiah has continued to fine-tune his craft through many releases and a rather active live presence. Already in 2019, there is no slowing down for High Sunn as we jump right into the new year with Our Perception, their latest release that is available today on streaming and limited cassette format through Spirit Goth. In fact, this record will also kick off Spirit Goth's new Cassette Club, which you should check out as well!

The marriage of Cheromiah's catchy guitar compositions and emotional vocals has a proven track record of catching listeners' attention. On Our Perception, tracks "Grateful" and "Just Remember" get back to the meat and potatoes of High Sunn with just that. We also see the return of drum and synth master Tristin Souvannarath on this album. His backing support definitely paves the way for a fuller sound that we have not always gotten on previous releases. Tracks like "Need For Your Comfort" and "Three Words" carry more weight than others with synth-heavy climaxes that tie nice bows around Cheromiah's sonic expressions. I will say that this album is both nostalgic and exciting, leading me to believe Our Perception exemplifies some of High Sunn's best work yet.

This record has gone on to serve as a reflection piece of a particularly hard time in Cheromiah's life. Since finishing Our Perception, Cheromiah has gone on to say, "Never have I ever spent months on a release. I've ached, cried, stressed, and felt joy writing these songs of love, real life experiences, struggles, and pure gratitude." Enough words... High Sunn is back again with a good one. Go ahead and have a listen for yourself.

Follow High Sunn

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bandcamp | Music Video for "Grateful"

Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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Horse Jumper of Love - 'Demo Anthology'

For those who do not already know, Horse Jumper of Love is one of the finer rock acts in the Boston area. They recently announced that their 2013-2014 demo compilation is now up on streaming services, and that Disposable America would be putting together another cassette tape run of the record. I did not even realize that it has been almost three years since their first studio record came out, so needless to say, I am really happy that this is accessible outside of bandcamp for the first time.

I think they said in a video somewhere that they call their music "slowcore" or something of that matter. I'd say so. Their emotional, slacker rock does the soul good. As for their Demo Anthology, the overall sound of the record is definitely more minimalist. This can be heard in the more stripped-down versions of "Bagel Breath", "DIRT", and "Ugly Brunette", which would go on to earn spots on HJOL's studio record. I will certainly emphasize the word "Demo" here, but I enjoyed this album nonetheless.

The flow is rather smooth for a compilation they probably pieced together from scattered recordings. That is a feat in itself. Tracks like "86", "Community College", and "Orange Peel (Make-out Version)" among others even serve as ambient transitions throughout. The meat of the album goes down between the sprawling noise. I wish "It's Nice" was longer. It's a treat.

I am not sure what HJOL has planned for 2019. They just did a string of dates with The Spirit of the Beehive, so it's looking good to me. Demo Anthology is available now on streaming services and cassette. I'd say you should give it a try.

Follow Horse Jumper of Love 

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Bandcamp | Streaming



Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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BBGuns - "One Piece"

I cannot really put into words what exactly BBGuns is. When it comes to this Pittsburgh duo, there are no rules. The mind says hip-hop, but the heart says everything else. Together talented vocalist Lazy JP and stalwart emcee Barz Blackman take elements found in pop and indie rock and slaps it up against hip-hop in a manner I have never really experienced before.

Their single One Piece is infectious. The performances between JP and Blackman complement each other oh-so-nicely in the track. Production handled by C. Scott and Oh85 sets the stage for a catchy club feel and The Zells even come in at the close of the song with some fuzzy guitar assistance. 

The music video for One Piece includes visuals that capture the contrasting beauty found in and around L.A. It was shot and directed by Cory Pitkavish who has worked with major artists like Desiigner and Riff Raff. Check it out below!

Bottom line: BBGuns makes good music no matter what you think it sounds like. Enjoy.

Follow BBGuns 

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Streaming 

Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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Simple Guide to the Cassette Tape Format

Cassette tapes are small, highly customizable, and most certainly do not sound like vinyl or CDs… they are the warmest sounding medium. It is not for everyone. Regardless of what you may think about the format, I hope this helps the people who want to appreciate the cassette and ultimately support artists everywhere. Thx.

Things to consider:

What do u want out of your cassette experience?

How much do you care about the sound?

Do you like clunky equipment? 

Do you want recording/dubbing capabilities?

Types of Players:

They do not make devices today for cassette tapes like they used to. Older devices are sturdier and more rugged. You may need to switch out some aged parts (belts, screws) in certain scenarios, but overall these devices are more reliable and affordable than current systems that may be available. In terms of pre-owned equipment, you got a couple options:

Tape Decks ($50+) 

If you want tape duplicating capabilities, be sure to grab a tape deck with two sides. You can still record onto a tape with a one side system, but you will have to record in real time for every tape directly from an external audio source. You will need some kind of receiver/tuner/speaker set up to complement the tape deck you select. Personally, in terms of audio equipment I am a big Onkyo guy.   

Recorders and Portable Players ($10-$30+) 

Gets the job done. Smaller, portable systems for the aesthetically pleased crowd.  

Hybrid Players and Boomboxes ($20+)

There are plenty of CD+Tape/Turntable+Tape/CD+Tape+Turntable combos to check out. Some people like to have it all in one. There are options out there for that. 

Where to Purchase?

Chances are that you have a relative with some kind of tape player laying around. Otherwise, find a local audio repair/vintage audio shop near you … or go on eBay. Make sure the seller is reputable. Make sure that an item has been tested recently and has no major deficiencies that would affect its performance while listening or dubbing. Additionally, make sure that you can count on a warranty if you get ripped off for something being broken. Hopefully that will not be something you personally will have to address. 

Galaxie Electronics (for the Pittsburgh folks) is next to Jerry’s Records, and they can hook you up with a quality tape deck for an affordable price. They can also repair audio equipment you bring into them. Check em out.

Tape Storage 

Many different ways to go about it. People get creative. There’s shelving units, briefcases, boxes, bins, etc. for cassette tapes. I am sure you can find a way to situate your collection. eBay

Purchasing Tapes

Obviously, Crafted Sounds has some cool music to check out on tape format (craftedsounds.bandcamp.com) but there are also some other really cool labels to check out. Here is a quick list of other cool labels killing the cassette game…

Disposable America

Citrus City

Z Tapes

Sports Day Records

Burger Records

Spirit Goth

Friends Records

Katuktu Records

Broken Circles

Fox Food Records

Double Double Whammy

Lolipop Records

It Takes Time Records 

Other Songs 

Human Sounds Records

Community Records

Deadplant Records

Hail Hail Records

Father Daughter Records

Tiny Engines

Near Mint Records

Danger Collective Records

Topshelf Records 

Run For Cover Records

… there are more out there for sure.

Written by Connor Murray (@craftedsounds)

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