January 11, 2007

The Heavy Rotation Records Epic Event, MC'd by Steve Foxx the Beatboxx, will showcase artists featured on Dorm Sessions Volume 4 (all groups include Berklee students or alumni), including seven-piece ska-punk band Big D and the Kids Table, veterans of the Warped Tour; Madi Diaz, who was featured in the 2005 documentary film Rock School; Spiritual Rez, who have opened for The Skatalites, Israel Vibration, and Gogol Bordello; The Teenage Symphonies, who played with The Click Five at Avalon; and up-and-coming Boston-based artists Kid:Nap:Kin, September Twilight, and Thick as Thieves.

The label received more than 300 submissions from Berklee students and alumni hoping to appear on Dorm Sessions Volume 4. The CD features two tracks by each artist. Says faculty advisor Jeff Dorenfeld of the selection process, "The project takes a direction of its own based on the submissions. The tracks that stand out are the ones we go with. Last year it was more hip-hop oriented, this time it turned out to be more rock, which we haven't had as much of in the past." The label is also headed in another direction with the submission process. For the next CD, they plan to take submissions online through the SonicBids website.

Student-run label Heavy Rotation Records was developed specifically for Berklee students to gain hands-on experience in running a record company. The label's staff—who are all Music Business/Management majors and do not appear on the CD—oversee all aspects of the label's management, creating, and implementing plans for A&R, marketing, sales, touring, graphic design, web development, and accounting. In addition, the students are currently working with SanDisk to make the CD available for download on the Sandisk website, promoting live events, producing a promotional DVD, and assisting the Planetary Group with a college radio promotion campaign.

Dorm Sessions Volume 4 is the ninth release by Heavy Rotation Records since forming in 1995. The label gained notice in 2002 with the all-female CD Shekinah: 13 Artists, distributed by Epic Records. Other releases include the second album by Boston band Apollo Sunshine, co-released with spinART records; and the compilation CDs Dorm Sessions Volumes I, II, and 3. Artists that appeared on previous Heavy Rotation compilations include Kristin Cifelli; members of The Click Five; Drexel; Brick Records artist Raydar Ellis; and Anjuli Stars, whose song Raindrops is featured on Pitbull's latest album.

	Press: to inquire about photo availability and usage, please e-mail us.
	Madi Diaz
	Photo courtesy of the artist.
	Teenage Symphonies
	Photo courtesy of the artist.

Teenage Symphonies is a Boston-based band comprised of guitarist Gavin McDevitt and drummer Chris Coando, both Berklee alumni; guitarist Eric Espirito; and bassist Pete Wald. Colorful and melodic, edgy guitar-driven, sophisticated pop perfection. These are the words that describe the sound of The Teenage Symphonies. They keep it simple: four lads, four instruments, four voices. But with creativity, sophistication, and sheer rock energy, the Teenage Symphonies are able to achieve a powerful, layered, and beautifully unique sound.

Kidnapkin [Kid:Nap:Kin] formed in 2004 and is comprised of guitarist/vocalist Daniel Ellis, bassist Jamila Weaver, and drummer Patrick Hanlin, who are all Berklee alumni. The group set out to create a style of music without boundaries or limitations. Pooling limited resources, the group recorded their debut EP, titled Frames. The original title for the EP, Guerrilla, was derived from the do-it-your-self methods the band undertook; recording all instrumental tracks in a rehearsal space on a laptop. Kid:Nap:Kin recently released a new EP, titled Touring The Riot Scene, and appropriately enough, the band just returned from touring the East Coast and Midwest.

Thick As Thieves was formed in 2004 by guitarist Aaron Benson, a Berklee alumnus, and student drummer Mike Cotter. Cotter played drums from an early age, but quit to help his family recover from the locust plagues and drought that devastated their Illinois farm. The cleanup took almost a year due to a lack of federal funding. Once it was complete he moved to Boston to pursue music, and met Benson over a spilled drink at a bar. Tyler Littwin and Berklee alumnus Matt Harmon soon joined them. Thick as Thieves spent two years touring and writing, and released their first album in 2006.

Big D and the Kids Table formed in 1995 and won a Boston Music Award in 1999 for Outstanding Ska Band. The group includes Berklee alumni David McWane, Sean Rogan, Dan Stoppelman, and Ryan O'Connor; students Steve Foote and Paul Cuttler; and Jon Reilly. They have toured with the Warped Tour, the Dropkick Murphys, Rancid, Reel Big Fish, The Toasters, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and many others. Upcoming releases include a split EP with Brain Failure, an album, and a DVD. Many stories exist about the band name's origin, but the name came when a friend told McWane if he ever started a band he should call it Big D and the Kids Table, so he did.

Spiritual Rez - a reggae, funk, and afrobeat group comprised of Berklee students Toft Willingham and Van Martin; alumni Jesse Shaternick, Brian Nelson, Kate Hesler, Kathryn Lively, Brian Evans, and Ian Miller; and Rob Vasnaver - is known for their unique sound and live performances. They have been writing music and touring tirelessly since forming at Berklee in 2003. The group recently released their second album, Rising In The East, on the heels of a 31-date tour. They have played numerous benefit shows and shared the stage with acts including The Skatalites, Gregory Isaacs, Israel Vibrations, Gogol Bordello, Jah Wobble, and Comedy Central's Dave Attel.

Madi Diaz has the power to fuse rock, blues, and folk the way Janis could. Berklee student Diaz made waves in 2005 belting out Zappa tunes in Germany in the nationally released documentary Rock School. After years of singing classic rock covers with the Paul Green School of Rock, she has opted for a new approach, unleashing the creativity within. Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Diaz began her music career when she was five. She started writing songs five years ago and playing in coffeehouses around town, modeling her style after Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow. Diaz, a songwriting major, is currently recording her debut album.

September Twilight take a thunder clashing drummer, a harmonically possessed bassist, two lushly complex guitarists, and a vocalist who swims at the edge of reason, and put it all together to create a unique sound. In the fall of 2001, the friendships of Berklee student Neil Taylor, alumnus Bill Bloom, Bam Bam, Luke Del Cid, and Joe Cusella, fused into one strong musical synergy. September Twilight were awarded best vocalist, bassist, and guitarists, as well as National Runner-Up in the 2006 Emergenza Battle of the Bands. The group released their debut full-length album, Evolution, in 2006.

Steve Foxx, a Berklee alumnus, has flowed with the best of them and rowed with the rest. Busting away, he has conquered certain rhythmic zones on the drums, and the human beatbox, always turning heads with his spontaneous combustion of sound. Simultaneously beatboxing with the piano, guitar, pan flute, drums, singers, rappers, and DJs, as well as other beatboxers in his live performances, he rocks. He is now hibernating in the studio, where he will be producing ill tracks (without an MPC).

Aiden Eve & The Innocent [appear on the CD but not in concert]. Mario Spinetti, frontman for the NYC-based glam/pop group admits the band name is a little confusing, as it is actually a story. "I started writing the text around my 19th birthday, so by now it's pretty long, upwards of a couple thousand pages, with a few generations of characters. It continues to evolve, and surprises me just about every day...It has heroes and villains, and a world of its own where their stories unfold." The group includes Berklee students Damon Hankoff, Greg Heffernan, and Chris Coletti; and alumni Jacob Bartfield, Jamie Cacace and Jonathan Maldonado.

For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:

Margot Edwards
Office of Public Information
(617) 747-2004
medwards@berklee.edu