Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does Severe Records LLC do, in a nutshell?

Produce superior-quality records and implement individualized strategies to maximize an artist’s success. That’s it. First, Severe Records LLC produces competitive records. Second, Severe Records LLC employs plans to promote artist’s careers, acting as a quasi-manager. It is tragic when 1) great artists sell records that are not as good as they should be, or when 2) talented artists have an incredible product sitting on the shelf. In light of the changing landscape of the music industry, we have developed a service that is truly beneficial to all parties – artists, us, and third-party beneficiaries.

2. Does Severe Records work with every interested artist?

No. We must be passionate about a project. Even if the prospect of success is guaranteed or capital is a non-issue, we must mutually determine whether working together would constitute a good “fit.” It is a two-way street – artists evaluate us, and we them. No one factor is determinative in leading us to get involved with a particular artist. We are dedicated to building brand credibility and artistic integrity, while getting material results for our clients.

3. If an artist is interested in working with Severe Records, what is the first step?

The first step is for the artist to become convinced of our abilities to deliver, concluding that working with us would be economically and artistically optimal. We hope that artists will determine that they stand to benefit more, working with us as opposed all other alternatives. We recommend that interested artists listen to the music we’ve produced in the past and read through our website as a preliminary step, evaluating the consistent quality of our work, which in the music business is the most important test. Artists may feel free to contact us any time or send their press kits here: 44 Music Square East 314; Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 500-4411; severerecords7@yahoo.com. We are like doctors on call around the clock.

4. Who pays for the project?

In the event that Severe Records LLC makes an offer, there are three distinct possible financers to cover cost of production and possibly promotion: 1) Severe Records LLC; 2) the artist; or 3) third-party investors. In determining which of these Severe Records will ask to assume the fiscal risk, a host of economic and market factors come into play, including 1) the artist’s bargaining power, 2) likelihood of success, 3) supply and demand, 4) common sense, and 5) opportunity cost. Using a sliding scale, artists should understand that if a third party invests in their career, they will reasonably require proportional benefits in exchange for their relative risks based on their economic expectations. Conversely, the more risk the artist incurs, the more ownership and control he will retain. Other basic financial axioms that come to bear on this issue are as follows: 1) It takes money to make money; 2) The relative sizes of the respective parties’ pieces of the pie do not necessarily matter, but the total size of the overall pie does matter (e.g. would an artist rather have half of a grape or one-third of a grapefruit?); 3) 100 percent of nothing is nothing; and 4) if you’re going to make music your business, you must have adequate start-up capital and a plan. Importantly, as a result of Guitar Center and the internet, the days of hand-outs to unproven artists are basically over. The good news is that because of new technology, artists can do more on their own. The bad news is that they are expected to do so. The more an artist does in building his career initially, the less risk third parties have to assume, thereby causing the artist to become a more attractive investment. Yet artists simply cannot do all that is required of them. The issues are too complex, and they will inevitably stretched too thin, especially since time is of the essence. After all, just booking and managing a website can be a full-time job for an artist.

5. What is Severe Records LLC’s goal for its clients?

Our goal is to help artists create a foundation so they can survive independently, if necessary, and become attractive to distributors, publishers, agencies, managers, publicists, radio promoters, music supervisors, and the like. We seek to assist artists in legitimately winning the support of two constituencies – fans and industry members. Both are important and neither can be arbitrarily disregarded.

6. What is Severe Records LLC’s internal corporate goal?

Severe Records LLC’s five-year corporate goal is to become the Sub Pop/Militia Group/Drive Through Records/Geffen Records of Music City. We can do so through support of fans and the artistic community. Entertainment remains the second-biggest export from the United States, and, economically speaking, there is no reason why New York and Los Angeles should have a monopoly on the best genres of music, when the infrastructure to create and promote those types is better-suited here.

7. How long does it take Severe Records to complete a record, from start to finish?

Two to four months, on average. We don’t work by the hour. We work until the project is properly completed.

8. What if the artist is from another country or from another state? Is distance a factor in being able to work with Severe Records LLC?

No, distance has never been a factor. Our methods get around the issue effectively? In fact, we sometimes prefer working with artists who are based outside of Nashville, believing that most artists should eventually leave their hometown to record. Live in New York and LA, record here.

9. Which kinds of artists does Severe Records want to work with, ideally?

Since we work very closely with our “current artists” and deal with them almost daily, we typically seek to work with artists who are 1) incredibly talented; 2) somewhat easy to work with (at least when dealing with their team) 3) unique/special, while appealing to a specific target audience; 4) driven, being relentlessly committed to forward progress, having an exceptionally strong work-ethic; 5) full of personality, intangibles, and faith; 6) committed to a meaningful cause, standing for something or having “something to say” (even if we don’t agree with it); 7) the right age and look; 8) aware that time is of the essence, since time is in fact compressed in the music business; 9) capable of demonstrating a track record of growth, having at least some tour history and musical credentials; 10) able to honestly discern their strengths and weaknesses; 11) knowledgeable of at least the basics in the music industry – having at minimum read “All You Need to Know About the Music Industry; 12) natural leaders; 13) road warriors, capable of booking their own shows; 14) excellent managers of their live shows; 15) great at sales; 16) serious about their career and team-oriented; 17) results-focused; 18) financially solvent; 19) with few or no dependents or problematic significant others who are unsupportive of their music goals; 20) not managed by a parent unless the parent is reasonably objective, has had music-business experience or enjoyed major success in the business world, has a law degree or MB; and 21) persuasive in compelling third-parties to invest their time and money into their career. No one of these characteristics is indispensible. Yet some combination of them is ideal, from our perspective. Importantly, we like to work with artists from whom we can learn something, too. In short, we want to work with true artists who will leave something of value behind in this lifetime; however, we do not require that the artists write all of their own material.

10. Is luck a factor in the music business?

Not necessarily. Degree of talent, capital, planning and skills of team members can overcome variables such as “luck.”

11. What are some reasons an aspiring artist should want Severe Records to produce his or her next record?

a. In every project  Severe Records undertakes, we diligently and earnestly aim to create a timeless masterpiece. Not only are the records a tangible fixed medium that the artist can be proud of for the rest of his life, but also his most important business asset next to the artist himself. While it takes more than a good record to succeed, the odds of an artist having sustainable success without one are virtually nil. Whereas an artist can only be in one place at one time, the recordings can theoretically be everywhere at all times.
b. All artists are in business, whether they know it or not, and their business is selling products such as records, merchandise, live performances, ring tones, etc. We help artists get saleable that the public and industry will want to buy.
c. Every artist should make at least one perfect record that constitutes his best foot forward before seeking representation with major-label distributors or coveted agencies/management. It’s a pity when an artist’s live show is better than his record because the recordings should constitute the one performance that is undeniably the artist’s best performance, since it is essentially a controllable performance.

12. Who gets creative control?

Severe Records LLC just about always grants the artist creative control. It is his career, after all. However, Severe Records LLC insists on having the right to offer any suggestion, big or small, on all issues, including creative and business issues, expecting that our suggestions will be fully considered. Sometimes we constructively represent a “whisper,” sometimes a “bullhorn,” but in the end we permit the artist to make the final call, whether it’s a creative or business issue.

13. Is the music business the world’s most fun and rewarding industry to work in?

Yes, but only if you are talented and financially solvent, operating under a sophisticated business plan with killer products.

14. What are the biggest killers of artists’ careers?

Usually these: 1) pride; 2) too much time passing without progress; 3) lack of startup capital; 4) inferior products; 5) team members who don’t add value; 6) poor planning; 7) lack of drive, talent, vision, and values; 8) not being informed; 9) uneducated and inexperienced managers; 10) the wrong attorney.

15. What are some highlights of your past and current artists’ successes?

Although we are arguably in fact to some degree “but for” causation to our artists’ subsequent successes, we play only a part and may be only one factor amongst many. Usually, an artist’s ultimate success or failure rests mainly on him, or on subsequent advocates who join his team after we do.

ALUMNI ARTISTS
- ELIOT MORRIS (Mobile/Singer-songwriter): After working with Eliot (the nicest guy on the planet), Gary Gersh signed him to Universal Music. He is currently booked by CAA and managed by Gary Borman. Eliot has toured extensively with Counting Crows and John Mayer, and other multi-platinum artists. His Universal release, “What’s Mine is Yours,” garnered impressive results on Clear Channel Radio, and had his songs placed in national commercials. Anyone who has interacted with Eliot can see that he unequivocally possesses the intangibles and tangibles of a star.

-THE REWINDS (Birmingham/Indie rock): Two months after The Rewinds finished their initial record with us, they accepted an offer from Live Wire Recordings/Ryko. They were up for Spin Magazine artist of the year and beat out Mute Math. They have a record out on Live Record that’s amazing. They toured a bit with Snow Patrol, which is our favorite mentionable.

-DAMIEN HORNE (Charlotte/Soul acoustic): Like Morris, Damien Horne has the intangibles and predisposition of a “star.” Horne is managed by Mark Oswald and booked by Jay Williams at William Morris. He earned a publishing deal with Big Love Music, and released an amazing record through his management company in 2008.

-CHAD BRADFORD (Muscle Shoals, Alabama/Country): After Severe Records LLC completed his first record, “Dollar Short,” Chad went on to sign with JD Jams label, who has served as his manager and label. He has been playing about 200 shows a year. To say that Chad is “country” is an understatement.

-NICK PAGLIARI/FAIRFAX (Memphis/Americana): After making his first record with us, “Water Cooler Stories,” Nick, the lead singer of Fairfax, went on to sign a publishing deal with Highland Music. He is now signed to Mad Jack/Warner Brothers. His CD “The Sail” is absolutely phenomenal. We suspect his career will continue to escalate, and that he’ll be around for a long time to come. Anyone who likes Jeff Tweedy needs to check out Nick’s music.

-SHANNA CROOKS (Nashville/Pop): After recording just a few tracks with us along with other production companies, Shanna went on to sign a publishing deal with a Nashville music publisher and achieved a management deal. She is now signed to Atlantic Records.

-THE PIERCES: The Pierces worked with us before getting signed to Epic Records, Universal, and now Lizard King. They are amongst the best of any sisters duo.

-CONCHITA LEEFLANG: Conchita’s recordings went gold in Europe. She continues to act, model and pursue music in Los Angeles. Maxim magazine did a spread on her, presumably for more than just her voice.

JOE BROOKS: Joe Brooks was a number-one “top artist” in the unsigned category on myspace for the UK for most of 2007. We began making a record for Brooks in summer 2007. Its completion was threatened by the sheer number of offers he received from major labels. When he started his record, he may have been too far along  the path to success for us to help him develop any further.

CURRENT ARTISTS
-MATT WOODS (Nashville/Singer-songwriter): After recording “Something Surreal” with us, Matt has been touring the college circuit heavily. His record did well on college radio and has had a number of placements in television shows. He shot a music video for his single “Misconception.” He is booked by Crescent Moon Agency. He acquired at least 14 placements in television shows in 2007 and 2008.

-PARIS LUNA (Atlanta/Folk rock): Paris Luna is so full of personality that she possesses the rate ability to make all who meet her want to get involved with her career. ON top of being an exceptional charmer, she has to be the hardest-touring female band in the Southeast, playing more than 150 shows in a year. She has regularly confessed that she just doesn’t feel good unless she’s on the road. Her record “City Lights” garnered great results on college radio and has compelled numerous music supervisors to license her music. Her publicity campaign got a solid launch from X0. Paris is booked by Blues Boys and Divas. She shot a music video for her single “Having a Hard Time.”

-PAINKILLER HOTEL (Chicago/Rock): Painkiller Hotel is a band that is doing everything right. They have to be the hardest-working band in Chicago, playing more than 150 shows annually. They’re clearly “getting it done” in their back yard, establishing the biggest local following in their city. After finishing their first record, “Black Roses” with us, Painkiller Hotel charted high on the CMJ charts. They were featured on MTV’s “The Real World,” performed on the WGN’s morning show, and had 18 placements on television shows in one recent year. Painkiller Hotel was lucky enough to have Michael J Media act is their current publicists, and they’re booked by Dreamscapers International. They recently shot their video for the single “Voice in My Head.” Their attorney Ed Feldman is likely to do more for them than we could ever do.

ELEVEN (Birmingham/Alternative): Before entering the music industry, Eleven worked in sales, learning skills which he has clearly applied to his music career. Eleven’s band continues their relentless (and successful) quest to conquer the college scene. Eleven is booked by Music Garden. Eleven’s radio, publicity and licensing campaign is well under way. He shot a video for his single “Takes My Breath Away.” One of our favorites of his accomplishments is that his single remained at number one on the top of the charts in garageband.com’s progressive-rock category from August 2005 through 2007 despite the thousands of submissions that poured in each day. On some levels that a modest accomplishment, but has been a great early indicator.

CHANCE: (Nashville/Urban-country-Southern hip-hop): After recording some tracks with Severe Records and other production companies, Chance signed to Warner Brothers Nashville. However, for a variety of reasons, Chance and Warner Brothers mutually agreed in 2006 that the fit wasn’t right. Warner Brothers graciously released Chance from his contract, and he returned to working with us. We finally finished his record. Chance has toured with artists such as Tanya Tucker, Kid Rock, Gretchen Wilson, and Hank Williams, Jr. He is truly Nashville’s “favorite son” and has substantial support from the local music community. Like Axl Rose, he cannot help but be the superstar he was destined to be.

JASON CHILDERS: (Walnut, Mississippi/Americana) Jason’s “fully band” record was released in mid-2008. His fans like to call him the “Jack Johnson of country music” for good reason. Jason has been performing all over Jackson and Nashville, landing weekly gigs down on Broadway. He shot a music video for “I Believe in Love.”

THE LIVIN’ LEGEND (Nashville/Gangsta Rap): The Livin’ Legend is easily the most promising underground rap kingpin in Nashville. He has been featured on tracks with Young Buck, Juvenile, Bun B, Pimp C, King Pin Skinny Pimp, Pastor Troy, Lil Flip, and other platinum artists. Legend has shot two videos with us, with catchy titles such as “Way Too Many Bitches” and “Gangsta’s in this Bitch.” While the views of Severe Records LLC do not match his, The Livin’ Legend is an artist with something to say, whose authentic raps create awareness, constituting a personal documentary, whose speech deserves the protection of the 1st Amendment, when targeted at the appropriate time, place and manner.

STATE LINE MOB (Florence, Alabama/Southern rock): If you are down with authentic southern-fried rock and you …

16. How do I get an internship at Severe Records?

E-mail your resume to severerecords7@yahoo.com and let us know a little about yourself, when you’d be available to start and what you’d be interested in doing here. Before you do that, you should know that internships are always unpaid, and that you’ll be responsible for find a place to live during your internship. We are always looking for bright individuals who are motivated to work in the music industry.

Ahmet Ertegun, president of Atlantic Records: “Walk slowly, and maybe you’ll run into a genius.”

Thanks,
Chris Sevier
CEO and president of Severe Records

Mail material to 44 Music Square East 314; Nashville, TN 37203
A&R: (615) 500-4411
severerecords7@yahoo.com
severerecords.net / www.severerecords.com