OBESE RECORDS LAUNCHES PLETHORA

Breathing new life into a genre largely overlooked in Australia, Plethora Records will blend vocalists and musicians with the country’s most distinguished Hip Hop producers to bring a modern splash of colour to the classic Earth tones of Soul. Think snapping 808 Drums with Idris Muhammed swing, booming horn sections, lush Bob Jones arrangements and effortless Donnie Hathaway vocals. Plethora keeps the dirt, the grit, the grime, the scars and the subtle imperfections.

A proudly independent label founded by Pegz (CEO Obese Records) the label has solid foundations spawned from Obese Records’ legacy of unprecedented success. Plethora will promote artists through intelligent marketing and comprehensive industry experience, while insisting on artistic integrity and creativity.

Plethora Records’ first signed artist, Jess Harlen, debuts her album Neon Heartache in February of 2010. Produced by Plutonic Lab (2008 Aria Nominee, 2009 Mercury Prize Winner), Neon Heartache showcases the incredible musical talent Harlen has been harnessing for years - touring the globe with roots giants Blue King Brown as well as guesting on Muph & Plutonic’s acclaimed 2008 album, …And Then Tomorrow Came. Her breakthrough 2007 EP, Street Level Soul, earned her recognition as the Best Unsigned Artist at the 2007 Urban Music Awards. Her debut solo full length is an exemplary effort of soul and introspection as expressed through the eyes and ears of Jess Harlen and Plutonic Lab. It is an album described by label CEO Pegz as, “the most phenomenal record I’ve heard in 5 years in any genre of music”.

Plethora links:
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/plethorasoul
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/plethorarecords

JESS HARLEN READIES 2nd SINGLE “I GO”,
DUE JANUARY 2010

“What real soul is meant to be – from the soul, not from the formula” – RAVE Magazine

The second single from Neon Heartache is the album’s most ethereal moment. Originally written in Brooklyn, New York, “I Go” electrically weaves the city’s monolithic presence, and entices iridescent imagery of cityscape versus cosmos. Against a backdrop of shimmering harmonics, Harlen’s earthly tones contemplate the fluidity of constant change as the meditative lyrics dance along a driving rhythm. The atmosphere is completed by Plutonic Lab’s sublime production touch, taking its acoustic beginnings to more galactic locations, offering a glistening undercurrent of continuous movement. “I Go” is a slice of introspection tinged with mystery- cementing the song as one of Neon Heartache’s many triumphs.

Already garnering positive acclaim for her first single “Watch the Water”, Harlen’s second continues to build her already impressive musical cannon. The burgeoning symbiotic producer-songwriter relationship of Plutonic Lab and Jess Harlen is paving the way for cross-genre success in Australia, and “I Go” travels the distance in heightening the expectation and breadth of Neon Heartache’s February 2010 debut.

Jess Harlen links:
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/soundslikesoul
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jessharlen

Watch Jess Harlen’s video for the first single “Watch the Water”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvBAXq2Vdhw

SYDNEY END OF YEAR PARTY
W/ SPIT SYNDICATE,
CHASM & VIDA-SUNSHYNE,
THE TONGUE

Before the year closes, there is still one massive Sydney show set to take place this Friday at the Oxford Art Factory! Make sure you see off 2009 with style as Spit Syndicate (their one and only headline show), Chasm & Vida-Sunshyne and The Tongue throw one big hip hop party.

Doors open at 8pm so get there early! Tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.moshtix.com.au/event.aspx?id=32161 (only $13 + BF)

NEW IN 2010: M-Phazes, Skryptcha,
Spit Syndicate and more!

Already lined up for what will surely be a busy 2010 are brand new, long-awaited albums by some of Australia’s finest.

M-Phazes: The as-of-yet untitled full length album by one of the country’s most acclaimed producers will feature a stellar line up of guests including Drapht, Bliss N Eso, Pegz, Illy, Phrase, Mantra and many more!

Mantra: The debut album by Mantra is expected in March and will be titled Power of the Spoken. Anyone who has seen or heard Mantra, will know this highly anticipated album will be fire.

Skryptcha: After making the breakthrough with his Left to Write EP (which includes the Triple J hit “Food For Thought”), Skryptcha returns and unleashes his full length album One Way. Expect big things from one of Sydney’s best and brightest.

Spit Syndicate: ARIA-nominated duo Spit Syndicate have been working on their sophomore album will continue to hold true their status as “the future of Australian hip hop”. More details forthcoming!

2009 IN REVIEW

This year has been an incredibly busy year. We’re privileged to have released material from Skryptcha, Coalition Crew, Hyjak N Torcha, Illy, Gully Platoon, Thundamentals and Chasm & Vida-Sunshyne. All of which are available at your favourite local music retailer, via iTunes, or online at our store. All of these artists have toured the country this year and you can all expect even more from them in 2010.

This year also saw the 2009 edition of the Obese Records Block Party. Massive shows across the country, great crowds, and an incredible time had by all. You can get some visual recaps from the tour via our partner Slate Bourbon’s Ozhiphop.com site.

Here is a video recap of the Melbourne show: http://slate.ozhiphop.com/videos/21421/Block-Party-Melbourne.htm

Brisbane show:
http://slate.ozhiphop.com/videos/20943/The-Obese-Block-Party--The-Tivoli-Brisbane.htm
 

OBESE DISTRIBUTION:

Fluent Form: The Furnace
Phatchance: Inkstains
Cross Bred Mongrels: Certified Wise
Micall Parknsun: First Second Time Around
Various Artists: Feeding Time At the Zoo
Kid Selzy: The Creepshow

OBESE RETAIL READY FOR 2010

It’s been a good year for Obese Records retail. This year we welcomed Ironlak to our paint rack. We have introduced new clothing brands including Alife and Upper Playground and plan to introduce another two international brands in 2010.

Until then, keep reppin’ and play it safe over the silly season. You can always keep in touch with what’s happening on the retail front by checking our blog @ www.obeserecords.blogspot.com

– Frank618

Still fresh from Obese

New and recent releases in stores:
Chasm & Vida-Sunshyne – Move – OUT NOW
Thundamentals – Sleeping On Your Style – OUT NOW
Gully Platoon – The Great Divide – OUT NOW
Hyjak N Torcha – Unregrettable – OUT NOW
Illy – Long Story Short – OUT NOW
The Coalition Crew – Known Unknowns – OUT NOW
Skryptcha – Left to Write EP – OUT NOW

Be sure to check out the all-new Obese Records Online Store for all your latest in music and merchandise! Direct from us: http://www.obeserecords.com/store

Or visit our retail store at 4A Izett Street, Prahran, 3181, VIC.

Keep up with what’s happening in the store with our retail store’s blog: http://www.obeserecords.blogspot.com

Until next time, we hope to see you all at a show, down at the store, or online at our Facebook page: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Obese-Records/33961266252 or on our MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/obeserecords. We are also on Twitter: http://twitter.com/obeserecords (follow us!)

For more information contact Billy at Obese Records on publicist@obeserecords.com or ph +613 9533 7429.