E1 Music

ZOROASTER ENTERS STUDIO TO BEGIN WORK ON NEW ALBUM "MATADOR"

By Dwele April 21st 2009

"ATLANTA'S LOUDEST BAND" TO DROP NEW RECORD THIS SUMMER Critically acclaimed "psych metal" band ZOROASTER has entered Atlanta's Living Room Studios (Mastodon, The Black Lips) to begin the recording of its hotly anticipated new album, Matador. A July release via E1 Music is expected.

ZOROASTER is working with producer Sanford Parker (Pelican, The Gates of Slumber) on the new album, which will be mastered by Collin Jordan (Black Moth Super Rainbow, Nachtmystium) at The Boiler Room in Chicago, IL. Matador's drums and bass are being laid to tape at Atlanta's Glow in the Dark Studios. Housed in the former location of the renowned Cheshire Sound Studios - the first dual 24 track facility in the Southeast - the recording complex has been home to projects featuring Prince, The Georgia Satellites, Steve Walsh and more. ZOROASTER's new material is said to be "more direct, more intense and absolutely enveloping." A new photo of the trio in the midst of recording can be viewed at this location.

ZOROASTER will debut a number of new songs at its upcoming SXSW live performances which kick off on Wednesday, March 17 as part of the Action! PR SXSW Showcase (@ Mohawk: 912 Red River St., Austin, TX). The official event flyer can be viewed online at this location. The all ages event will be open to the public as well as SXSW badge and wristband holders. A full listing of ZOROASTER SXSW live appearances follows this message.

When asked for comment on Matador, ZOROASTER guitarist / vocalist Will Fiore dished, "As a whole, these are the strongest songs we've ever put together and they really encompass everything we've done until now as a band. There are some really heavy, slow creepers and some of the faster, more driving songs. The new material ranges from really aggressive to more melodic and trippy." "It's going to be a pretty straight-forward rock album and I think it's what we wanted to create with both 'Dog Magic' and 'Voice of Saturn' rolled into one," offers drummer Dan Scanlan. "There will be a lot of shorter tracks that are very straight forward and hard-hitting - it's a lot less of a droning record than what people are expecting. The album title "Matador" sums up the feel of the album perfectly. It's an "epic" sort of title; strong and powerful, but graceful."

ZOROASTER, the Atlanta-based group who has been called "one of the U.S.'s most promising metal bands" while drawing stark comparisons to Godflesh, Sleep and the Melvins, formed in Atlanta, GA in 2003 out of the need for "sedation by high volumes and low frequencies". ZOROASTER has met to shining praise from metal and indie rock press alike, receiving shining accolades for its deafening power, intriguing mysticism, use of left-of-center instrumentation (which has included Moog synths, Theremins, ominous vocal choirs and even brass sections) and unique take on heavy music. ZOROASTER's live show has been described as "an obliteration of the senses", earning the three piece the title of "Atlanta's loudest band".

In addition to Fiore and Scanlan, ZOROASTER features bassist / vocalist Brent Anderson.

ZOROASTER is available to speak with interested media now. To chat with the band, simply contact Carl Schultz @ ACTION! PR via any of the means listed below. Updated ZOROASTER news and tour information will be made available via the ZOROASTER web domains: www.myspace.com/thezoroaster / www.facebook.com/zoroasterband / www.twitter.com/zoroasterband, the E1 Music website: www.e1music.us and the ACTION! PR online domains: www.action-pr.com, www.twitter.com/action_pr and www.facebook.com/actionpr.

"At their fastest, ZOROASTER could pass for half-speed Motorhead. At their slowest, the seconds between notes inch into double-digits. Titanic heaviness...in the right light, those wide-open riffs hide worlds inside." - VILLAGE VOICE

"extremely heavy...I can't stop listening." - PITCHFORK

"excellent...monolithic slabs of stoner doom...ridiculously heavy." - ALARM

"Epic sludge/doom with a strong psychedelic bent, the first full-length by the Atlanta trio alternates between the deliberate pace and structure of classic doom and the more free-form, swirling departures of Hawkwind." - POPMATTERS

"This is what stoner metal should be: one foot in the south and the other in hell." - DECIBEL

"Unholy doom...When ZOROASTER hit their groove, the results can be truly magical." - REVOLVER

ZOROASTER TOUR DATES:

March 17 Austin, TX Mohawk (* As part of the Action! PR SXSW showcase w/ High on Fire, Priestess, Zoroaster (10:30 PM), The Gates of Slumber, NAAM, Mondo Drag, etc.) March 18 Austin, TX Hoek's Death Metal Pizza (* As part of BrooklynVegan / Crustcake / 1000 Knives Present a Pizza Party! w/ Zoroaster (3:10 PM), Coffinworm, Trash Talk, etc.) March 18 Austin, TX East End Tattoo (* As part of Chronic Youth Presents: Zoroaster (5:00 PM), Snake Sustaine, Dark Castle, etc.)

DWELE SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM W.ANTS. W.ORLD. W.OMEN (W.W.W.) ON JUNE 29, 2010

By Dwele April 21st 2009

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dwele is prepping for the release of his long awaited 4th studio album, W.ants. W.orld. W.omen. (W.W.W.). The project will be released on RT Music Group/E1 Music on June 29th, 2010. This album is the follow up to Dwele's last album, Sketches of a Man which included "I'm Cheatin'."

The first single from W.ants. W.orld. W.omen. (W.W.W.) the soulful tune, "What's Not to Love," was the #1 most added record at Urban AC radio this week, surpassing songs from Keith Sweat and Smokey Robinson, among others. Some of the 30 stations that added the record are KJLH in Los Angeles, KMEZ in New Orleans, WBAV in the Carolinas, WGPR in Detroit, WSRB in Chicago, WSOL in Jacksonville, WMJM in Louisville, KMJM in St. Louis, and more.

To listen to "What's Not To Love," click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg6X2A_yLkc.

"W.W.W. is separated into three sections, representing different aspects of myself as an artist," explains Dwele. The album is a collection of songs combining elements of both R&B and hip hop to express his personal and political views as filtered through the turbulent economy and political climate of today. Dwele continues, "With W.W.W., I wanted to do as Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway did. When you hear their music now, you feel exactly what the climate was at the time, and that's the job of musicians, to talk about the world's situation."

Dwele was featured on the chorus of Kanye West's smash hit, "Flashing Lights." Recently, he also became the face and voice behind the launch of McDonald's new product line, McCafe.

Dwele will hit the road later this year with dates to be announced soon.

For more music and all things Dwele, please visit www.myspace.com/dwele and www.youtube.com/dwele24.

You can also follow Dwele on Twitter at www.twitter/therealdwele.com.

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED VIOLINIST REGINA CARTER RELEASING REVERSE THREAD, A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN FOLK MUSIC

By E1 Entertainment March 10th 2009

When preeminent violinist Regina Carter made the decision to record an album primarily of African folk tunes, she created a great challenge for herself: how do you take beautiful traditional music and infuse it with a contemporary feel while remaining true to its past - and then, not compromise its beauty? Her newest release, Reverse Thread, due out on E1 Entertainment on May 18th brilliantly responds to the challenge.

To achieve the uplifting and stirring result, Regina added an accordion and kora-the West African harp traditionally played by village storytellers-to her longstanding rhythm section. Kora virtuoso Yacouba Sissoko was brought on board to help recreate the spirit of passing stories from generation to generation. The result-unlike anything previously heard-is a haunting and beautiful compliment to Regina's sumptuously seductive violin.

Without the support of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation, which "awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals," Reverse Thread might never have been realized. As a MacArthur Fellow - a recipient of what is commonly known as the "genius grant" - Carter was armed with the funds and the freedom to follow her muse.

Regina turned to the World Music Institute in New York City, in which she found a diverse and inspirational resource for material, including ethnographic field recordings. Regina looked not just to the music, but also the accompanying sounds and nuances of everyday life from anthropological and sociological perspectives which informed the spirit of the new arrangements.

"There is an immense amount of amazing music coming from all around the world, much of which is barely accessible," emphasized Regina. "Reverse Thread gave me the opportunity to explore and celebrate a tiny portion of music that moved me."

Both "Hiwumbe Awumba" and "Mwana Talitambula" are based on field recordings from the Ugandan Jews, a community in eastern Uganda who although are not genetically or historically Jewish, practice the Jewish religion. Setting the inspirational tone for the album, the first track "Hiwumbe Awumba" originates from a field recording of a group singing, "God creates and then He destroys." Although the title is dark, the uplifting quality and spirit of the voice on the recording inspired Regina, and the final arrangement is a paean to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Using the field recording of a woman singing "Mwana Talitambula" as a departure point, Regina's bass player Chris Lightcap split the melody between the violin and bass with a hypnotically emotive result.

Reverse Thread also embraces music of the African Diaspora. As but one example, "Un Aguinaldo" skillfully layers the rhythmic aspects of African music with harmonies originating in India and Puerto Rico.

Through her albums, incessant touring and various guest appearances and collaborations, Regina has developed into a distinctly diverse musical personality. She has repeatedly toured throughout the world, was the first jazz artist and African American to play Niccolo Paganini's famed Guarneri "Cannon" violin, has been featured with several symphony orchestras and performed with artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Billy Joel, Kenny Barron and Mary J. Blige.

With Reverse Thread, Regina takes a giant step forward by making a meaningful musical contribution on her own terms.

REVERSE THREAD: Regina Carter / Violin Yacouba Sissoko / Kora Adam Rogers / Guitar Will Holshouser & Gary Versace / Accordion Chris Lightcap & Mamadou Ba / Bass Alvester Garnett / Drums & percussion

E1 ENTERTAINMENT AND THE LEGENDARY KISS SEAL DEAL

By E1 Entertainment March 10th 2009

Leading independent studio, E1 Entertainment is thrilled to finalize their production and development deal with legendary rock band KISS. E1 will tap the worldwide enthusiasm for the KISS brand, collaborating with founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley to create a comedic half-hour kids television series that galvanizes the band's iconic personas for its young fans.

"We're honored to be involved in carrying on the KISS legacy," comments Frank Saperstein, Senior VP of Kids and Animation for E1. "It's wonderful to collaborate with the creative forces behind one of the greatest rock bands of all time and unquestionably one of the most recognized worldwide."

E1 has snagged the KISS brand as it eclipses its roots, building energy in new family and youth media outlets. KISS's role as the face of Dr. Pepper, their significant presence during Super Bowl XLIV, and their appearance on the 2009 American Idol Finale, which reached over thirty million viewers, has made the make-up and leather-clad giants a household name for kids and families today. The KISS tradition continues to grow generation after generation transcending age, race and creed.

"KISS continues to be the juggernaut of licensing and merchandising, from KISS M&M's to KISS Dr Pepper," remarks KISS co-founder Gene Simmons, "KISS is a band, but also the only music BRAND. Continuing in our 35 year history of going where no band has gone before, we are proud to partner with E1. Like all things KISS, we intend to make this a very special show for our fans." "We couldn't be more excited. Coupling E1's successes and ingenuity with the global force of KISS guarantees an express pass into the homes of our youngest KISS Army members with a show of superior quality," adds KISS co-founder Paul Stanley. The as- yet untitled series will be produced and distributed worldwide by E1. Executive Producers are John Morayniss and Frank Saperstein for E1 Entertainment; Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS. E1 and KISS will handle all licensing and merchandise for the series.