Local Band Gets International Recognition!

[roninriot]

HELLO fellow SOFTies!

Levan here from ASTRONINJA.

We're so happy and delighted to reveal our debut music video for THE BUKKAKE UDON SONG!
The video has been awarded first prize on Newgrounds and was animated by an American Flash animator by the name of Denzel.

You can watch it here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljNPvHMIiPg

Thanks to an ongoing online promotion, The Bukkake Udon Song as well as our upcoming single, Anthem For The Ordinary, has been voted the #2 most rocking song of all-time on popular website, Garageband.com(Supported by iTunes and iLike), beating out thousands of international bands to clinch the spot.

To date, Astroninja songs have received more than 200,000 plays on our various web profiles with more than 30,000 downloads in just under 3 months.

Our debut album, KISS MY ASTRO! will be released internationally via websites CDBaby.com, Smartpunk.com, iTunes, MSN Music, Interpunk.com, Rhapsody.com and more this coming October.

The album will also be sold in selected retail outlets across the US and Europe.

A full online merchandise store selling Astroninja T-shirts, hoodies, skateboards, shoes, mugs, posters and toys will be launched this October with all products available internationally.

Songs from the album will also be featured in upcoming TV ads in Germany, as well as various film, TV, and video game placements in the US.

We're really excited about this venture and would love to take the opportunity to thank ALL SOFTies for their support and kind encouragement! Singapore will always be our home, and SOFT will always be our special campfire hut!

Once again, KISS MY ASTRO! will be released in October with 11 tracks produced by the late great Wayne Thunder and the one and only Leonard Soosay, producer of Electrico, The Suns, The Great Spy Experiment and more, Co-producer credits go to Martin Kong of Caracal!

Plans are currently underway for a US tour.

Thank you! We give you ninja cookies and smiling giraffes!
o o o o

Levan
ASTRONINJA

 

[mrekoj]

Bukakke ...... ?? ....

i dont dare to watch it in office then

 

[roninriot]

Don't worry
It's Kid-friendly! There's no nudity and no actual bukkake.
Besides, Bukkake Udon is an ACTUAL Japanese dish, steamed meat and vegetables
Nothing to do with that dirty deed

 

[mrekoj]

lol, just kidding, i saw hentai queen at the description too

anyway, congrats man, will go load the flash now

 

[roninriot]

Everybody needs a little hentai once in a while

 

[meekahsoh]

Dammit you guys are awesome!

 

[roninriot]

*blushes*
Naw, we just try our best to be inventive and think outside the box, and dare to try new things and approaches that reach beyond our local shores.

Cause we didn't want to be the type of band that stands there, looking serious, carrying our guitars, acting cool, etc. You can be a serious musician without forcing yourself to look cool or whatever.

If any fellow local bands out there are curious on how we went about getting distribution, merchandise deals or TV ad placements overseas, feel free to message me! I'll be glad to share the stuff we did and how we did it with fellow SOFTies

Levan

 

[KissMyAxe]

Congrats. All the best in your future endeavour

 

[jeremyrozario]

Cause we didn't want to be the type of band that stands there, looking serious, carrying our guitars, acting cool, etc. You can be a serious musician without forcing yourself to look cool or whatever.

i was juz tinkin abt this too, so stereotypical of a rock band

kudos to thinkin out of the box

and i never knew bobby was some transformer zoid thingy lol

 

[yoruka19]

salute!!!look up to u guys man

 

[roninriot]

Thank you for the support. We really appreciate it!

We've been working like ninjas undercover for months now so we're glad that some stuff are coming to light

It hasn't been easy figuring out the path so far, and we've only just begun our promotions. We never expected people from around the world would take to our music the way they have, but it has gotten us inspired to work harder than ever before. This is only the beginning of our drawn out plans for the future, and we're really excited about it!


**********


"We have decided not to be associated with any major or indie music labels or major organizations within Singapore such as Mediacorp or Singapore Press Holdings to name a few. We will also not be feeding any of our singles to radio stations here, despite Levan's links with these corporations"

While this might seem controversial, there is a reason for this.

We find that a lot of local bands here feel that they're road to success is built upon the need of media support in Singapore, and many bands spend a lot of time wanting to get signed or wanting to be recognized or acknowledged by the media or wanting to be played on radio here. While this is indeed a bonus and a good form of public recognition, the reason why we have declined to be associated with any of these organizations is because we're tired of local bands being treated as the underdogs, the grovelers for attention, the bottom feeders within our OWN COUNTRY..

Though we have media contacts within the local newspapers, magazines, radio, television and major labels in Singapore, we hereby renounce all links with them and will not participate in promotions in any of the above mentioned forms of media.

By declaring ourselves as independent from all these media outlets, we are just trying to say that the power to success (or failure) lies entirely in the hands of the musicians themselves, not at the hands of the media support (or lack thereof) of Singapore

Singapore bands have the right to stand up and take their fate into their own hands and not be at the mercy of our country's organized propaganda and slanted media coverage and perception.

This is our declaration of independence!

We are not Ronin II, Bad Obsession II, Syawla Evol II, The Leaven Trait II.

We are Astroninja, and we like bukkake udon!

Thank you

 

[legless]

Respect!

I'm definitely getting the album! Maybe fellow softie discount? =x

 

[tizzybac]

Congrats to Levan & Astroninja!

 

[alfa]

If any fellow local bands out there are curious on how we went about getting distribution, merchandise deals or TV ad placements overseas, feel free to message me!

im curious,
and so are other fellow SOFTies.!
could kindly share withs us on getting distribution etc like you've mentioned.?
heeeeee:mrgreen:

 

[XLayaR]

I used to love NG

I used to love weird hentai

 

[emochick]

this is fantastic!

 

[Godspeed64]

Congratulations guys! Astroninja is a great band!

I seriously believe in the quality of local music in Singapore.. There are NUMEROUS great acts out there.. Astroninja is one of those.. I feel that if the locals become more daring, and tap into the international pool of media, they can make it big outside.. If the Swiss can get known from their watches and chocolates, we can make ourselves known with good music and harsh anti-drug policies as well! :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Bukkake oOOOooOOooOooo.. Don.

 

[currypuff]

ahaha super random video. but still fantastic song

 

[roninriot]

Yes we totally agree!
We adore a lot of Singaporean bands, and have immense respect for a lot of our peers.
But to be honest, without offending anyone, sometimes I think that local musicians need to think outside the box. And not just think outside the box, but act OUTSIDE of the confines of comfort.

For example, I had a friend of mine in one of the damn good local bands. He was set on signing to a label in Singapore and getting on the local airwaves. This was a very honest ambition and I respected his persistence in wanting to be recognized or acknowledged by the local media.

But I asked him, "Then what after that? So what happens when you get on radio or in the newspapers?"

And he was like "Um, then we can start to make it big?"

I had another friend who a few years ago won quite a major band competition. Then I asked him "So where will you be taking your career from here?"

And his response was "Wait I see. Maybe people will start to recognize us after we win"

To both these friends I told them, don't ever wait and see, don't ever wait for opportunities to come, and don't think along the lines of putting your fate and future in the hands of the media in Singapore. Don't settle for what you've already accomplished and always keep yourself pumped up for that next tier to climb.

I work in the media in Singapore and I can honestly tell you, 95 percent of reporters and journalists do not give a flying lovelovelovelove about the local scene. I'm not exaggerating. The 5 percent that do care are either veterans in the scene, in bands themselves, or are local scene fans of a select few bands. The 95 percent, they'd rather be drinking free flow drinks at some clubbing event.

If you can't beat the system, work around and beyond it. But be willing to do things that many would deem 'impossible' or 'improbable', because the feeling you get from accomplishing them despite the naysayers is lovelovelovelovelovelovelove sweet!



*************


As to how we managed to get distribution overseas and work with overseas talents in a short period of time, it's all a matter of persistence, daily dedication and patience. Here are a few short points!
____

Understanding your demographic is the first important step.
Next, would be reaching out to this demographic, and sussing out what appeals to them and what doesn't.
Then, clinch their support by showing that YOU take an active interest in them and therefore, they should take an active interest in you.
You just have to put the effort to truly reach out to them, understand their interests, and cater to those interests without selling out or compromising your artistic integrity.

Remember, just as the Americans and the European bands are the novelty to us.
WE, Asians, Singaporeans, are the novelty to them.
There is also a big influx of interest in Asian bands in those areas. And you will be amazed as to how open minded they are to new forms of music, and how much enthusiasm and support they are willing to show acts that they believe in. It is incredibly flattering and touching.

Be resourceful.
The Internet is huge and wide. Seek and you shall receive what you are looking for!

The power of the fan...
...is immense. Form overseas street teams, encourage the word of mouth, ask for contacts for overseas college radio DJs who are willing to play independent music from everywhere, ask for contacts for indie rock publications available at every street corner for free, etc.

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there!
For every person who likes you, chances are there'll be another person who hates your guts!
I'm sure there are people who hate my guts, wish I was dead or think of me as a loud mouthed chee*** albino with zero talent! But the fact of the matter is, I never gave a lovelovelovelove what they thought, and neither should you!
The more things you accomplish, the more people will try to take you down. It is a FACT OF LIFE!

But you have to be willing to put yourself way out there in order for people to discover you, to listen to you, and decide for themselves if they like you.

A lot of musicians and bands in Singapore are afraid of criticism, afraid of being put down, afraid of pissing people off by being bold and honest. The dead honest truth is this; If you're afraid of failure, criticism and 'not being ready', just play in your bedroom or to a few close friends. There's nothing wrong with that whatsoever. But if you want to be in a band, have the balls to be proud of it and work your ass of for it.

Note: Taking pride in something is different from being an arrogant ass!


If you combine all these resources together, and are willing to take the time to find, research and understand their workings, you will realize that the power of YOUR music being heard is immense, IF you work for it.

So seriously,
who the hell needs to suck up to the local media here anymore?

lovelovelovelove them!

I believe in local music wholeheartedly and I truly feel it is time that the local scene restarts its way of thinking from scratch and practice forward thinking. Curb that cynicism and change it to productive optimism. That is the only way for our scene to grow beyond our sunny shores.

Aren't you sick of hearing "Oh, that country where chewing gum is banned and you cane vandals?" when you mention Singapore to foreigners? We're so much more than that.

We're a country of bloody good musicians!

So don't wait for tomorrow or the day after to start planning, marketing, promoting, and pushing your band outwards now. Start today, and stop giving yourself excuses not to try. Procrastination is the castration of a musician.

 

[JaarVis.]

Congrats and All e best !