January 16th, 2012

BACKBURNER: Watch “Heatwave” now! + RMX Contest & Release Party!

The big day has finally come! The “Heatwave” video was released on YouTube today, so sit back, relax, and watch (at 720p for best viewing, apparently):

With the video unveiled, everyone in Backburner and at Hand’Solo Records is so excited we’ve decided to celebrate with two additional activities that should hopefully help you become more involved in our excitement:

1. “Heatwave” remix contest.

We’ve decided to produced a collector’s edition vinyl EP of favourites from the album, and we’ll definitely need a remix of “Heatwave” to make the EP that much more special. While the 19-man crew kept everything in-house for the album, everyone is in agreement that it will be more interesting to see what an outside ear brings to this very distinct song. Prospective producers should feel free to experiment. This is YOUR remix. The winner will have their remix released on the vinyl EP as well as receive five copies of the EP. The four runner-up remixes will be featured on HandSoloRecords.com and Backburner.ca leading up to the release of the vinyl Heatwave EP. All submissions must be received by February 29, 2012 and sent to remix@handsolorecords.com.

For further details or to DOWNLOAD THE HEATWAVE REMIX PACK ZIP go to: http://handsolorecords.com/brainonsunrays/

2. “Heatwave” video release party.

Here is all the info you need:

$5 RAP SHOW presents Double Video Release for…
Backburner’s “Heatwave” & Wordburglar’s “Rhyme O’Clock”

with live performances from:
MORE OR LES, WORDBURGLAR, TIMBUKTU, CHOKEULES, THESIS SAHIB, FRESH KILS & MISTER E

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 @ Rancho Relaxo, 300 College St., Toronto

Doors Open @ 9pm
Only $5!
19+

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/115866101867243/?ref=ts

January 11th, 2012

BACKBURNER: #5 on Top 11 Albums of 2011 + Hand’Solo a Top 5 label



Damn! They’ve done it again! Before the year ended, IndieRockMag.com listed Backburner’s “Lifers” as one of their favourite songs of 2011, and early into the new year they followed up with an article listing Hand’Solo Records as one of 12 labels to watch in 2012 (see recent previous posts for the nitty gritty on all of that). Now, they present their Top 11 Albums of 2011, and Backburner’s Heatwave album has made it all the way up to the number 5 spot. Included is a list of further recommendations, and both Toolshed’s The Lost and Angerville’s Warfare make the cut. And as a special bonus, Hand’Solo Records is listed among the Top 5 Labels of 2011. Congrats to the cats in Backburner, and thanks to IndieRockMag.com for once again honouring the label and the ‘Burner.

For your curiosity, here are the Top 11 Albums for 2011 (according to IndieRockMag.com):

1. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
2. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
3. AbSUrd - Close To Distantly
4. Sole - mansbestfriend Vol. 5
5. Backburner - Heatwave
6. Beans - End It All
7. Monsieur Sai - Soigne Tes Blessures
8. Deadverse Massive - TakeOver
9. The Roots - Undun
10. Murmur Breeze - Foreshore Reverie
11. Subtitle - s.h.a.r.k. BRIEF

See the rest of their recommendations, read the review of each album, or just check the rest of the year end lists at: http://www.indierockmag.com/article17168.html

January 9th, 2012

HAND’SOLO RECORDS: One of 12 labels to watch in 2012!



Shortly after listing “Lifers” from Backburner’s Heatwave album as one of their recommended songs of the year, Hand’Solo Records is honoured to have been selected by Indie Rock Mag as one of 12 labels to watch for 2012. You guys rock! The article is in french only, but the accompanying interview with Hand’Solo label head Thomas Quinlan is provided in both english and french. Thank you Indie Rock Mag for your interest in Hand’Solo Records and in what I had to say. And thanks for selecting us.

As always, just a taste:

IndieRockMag.com: Which artist from the label impressed you the most in 2011, and why ?

TQ: Perhaps this is cheating, but I’m going to have to say Backburner has impressed me the most in 2011. Individually the core members of Backburner have been having a phenomenal couple of years with the consistent release of one awesome album after another, each artist on their own style, but this year it’s gone into overdrive, culminating in the release of their first real crew album at the end of the summer. Heatwave has been on the Canadian College hip hop top ten for 9 weeks running and has been critically well-received. The video for the first single, and title track, will drop before the end of the year, and is sure to warm up the winter. It’s easy for me to say Backburner is the most diverse, best crew in Canada right now, hands down. And props to Ghettosocks and Timbuktu for doing the very difficult and booking themselves a sweet cross-Canada tour.

Read the rest of the interview (and article if you can handle the french) at: http://www.indierockmag.com/article17037.html