Mantis Roundup
First things first, a tremendous thank you is in order for all of the initial support you have shown towards Mantis. With your help, the pre-order is off to a great start and the momentum continues to build.
Needless to say things have been as hectic as ever around UM headquarters as we continue to devise ways to make the whole Mantis experience as unique and rewarding for all those involved. We are trying to get outside that proverbial box and take care of those who have long taken care of us. To be certain, the music business is a bizarre and rapidly morphing business and most of the conventional rules have been tossed out the window like hotel TVs on a Motley Crue tour. We figure that provides us an opportunity to stretch out a bit. The main questions we keep asking ourselves revolve around the idea of what would our fans most appreciate, along with a delicious new record? What excites us about our favorite bands and how can we expand on those answers?
And so we've arrived at Mantis. The bonus content is aimed at giving you a better understanding of how we create, where the ideas come from, and how they germinate. It's also aimed at our desire to share the Mantis experience with you as the control room of a studio is only so big (Joel has been keeping especially fit recently so we thank him for that added space). Beyond that, it is important to us that we continue to push the boundaries of how music is shared, heard, and experienced. We certainly don't have all the answers but we are never going to stop asking the questions.
Initial responses have been favorable across the board. There have been a variety of posts that are noticing what's going on in our camp and we're just getting started. Here are links to a few recent articles that have been garnering some industry attention.
http://www.brandflakesforbreakfast.com/2008/11/how-to-sell-product-in-music-industry.html
http://www.freshsqueezedmarketing.com/2008/11/controlling_the.html
http://www.playbsides.com/?p=500
http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/?encoreId=160&articleId=28576
http://www.adrants.com/2008/11/plaid-helps-make-the-record-business.php
We would really love your help to continue to foster the growth of all things Mantis. Much like the live show, this is only as good as the energy that is harnessed together. So pass it on and spread the word, embed the widget in your own blogs/networking sites, gift the record and stay tuned as we provide more tools for your DIY arsenal.
The funny part is that lately we keep focusing on everything surrounding the album now that the actual disc is pretty much finished. But I honestly can't get these tunes out of my head. I have literally been working on this record for almost two years and I still love this music. And I can assure you that is a rare feeling after you listen to something for several thousand hours with a fine tooth comb. Look for lots more commentary and goodies to be springing forth in the weeks ahead.
The beloved Ampex MM1200 16 track 2" tape machine that we used for all our core tracking
And the beloved computer screen that my partner in crime Manny Sanchez and I have been staring at for 21 months, not quite as soothing as that tape machine
