Latest News from Minds Behind the Music

New Indie Label Gets Mainstream Distribution


A brand new music label released a charity album for planet Earth and because of that were offered mainstream distribution through Orchard.

The label, Minds Behind the Music, released a compilation album of the same name featuring stars such as Mungo Jerry and Simon Kirke of Bad Company. They also featured a host of awesome indie musicians. Following this they released an album from the legendary Star Prairie Project which has so far had millions of plays.

Now with global mainstream distribution in place they are releasing two more albums from two indies.

The first is actually the second album from the electronic ambient and established indie, SchizoFranic, entitled Event Horizon. Her first album from the label was called Vibes and is already being considered by several film companies for inclusion in movies.

The second new album is called Fecundness and is quite different. It comes from prog-rock indie band, Those Men, who are quite a name in the indie world for being totally insane.

“We want a broad spectrum of the best talent in the indie world and with these two very different releases we believe we’re getting there.” said MBTM owner and author, Phil G.

Both albums were released world-wide on every platform on the 22nd April.

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PRESS: Please get in touch for photo’s, links, interviews etc.

More Information about MBTM Records can be found here https://mindsbehindthemusicrecords.carrd.co

For all enquiries please contact: officialmbtm@gmail.com

Indie Superstar Interview

Indie Superstar, Coen Rhys, Answers Our Questions

Coen Rhys is a positive over-thinker & experimental songwriter, applying twisted logic while balancing happy times with sad moments. He's also a jolly awesome chap and great musician who appears on the Minds Behind the Music fundraising album and will appear on the second one soon!

Follow him on twitter https://twitter.com/coenrhys




If you could be any other musician past or present, which one would it be and why?

I like to think I consolidate and balance my influences… I’m happy to let them be them and for me to use their inspiration in how I diarise my thoughts through music to (try and) make sense of the mad world we live.


If you had to name one song from any genre that really speaks to you, which one would it be and why?

That's a rough one! I would be inclined to go with Jupiter by Gustav Holst. I can hear the ideas within the piece in lots of music!

Are you a Mulder or Scully? Do you believe aliens have visited planet earth and if so what do you think they think about mankind?

Yes I believe aliens have visited planet earth… I am of the belief that the humans are the aliens.

The longer we have been on the plant, the more time to become increasingly distracted on what’s important and generally focussed on barriers to happiness.

What was the happiest day of your life and why?

The day our family as a 4 piece was complete.

From the unsure but excited face of my Oder child coming into my bedroom, seeing mummy wasn’t there and asking if her sister was ok (we didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl).

Then when they both met each other, mummy and daddy looking at each other as our hearts were on the verge of bursting, thinking: this is the best feeling!

If “God” (whatever your idea is on that) were stood before you now, what one question would you ask him/her and why?

I wouldn’t ask God anything. I believe we make our own God. We have the power to make life whatever we want it to be.

As an expressive artist in the music industry, how does the state of the planet make you feel?

Embarrassed!

The planet however has a way to make the best of how it’s treated. I just hope the planet has some more patience to forgive the stupidity that’s destroying it.

Do you think as a person of some influence that there is a duty on us to help influence humanity for the better?

Every living thing has a duty, unfortunately the culture we find ourselves in is dominated by the need for power rather than common sense. We should all role model and all be willing to adopt better ways of thinking whoever or wherever these ideas come from.

What one cause would you say you feel most associated with and why? Whether it’s equality, poverty, politics, the environment or other?

It all comes down to respect! I often think that supporting just one cause is counter intuitive, and creates more of a divide.

Countries are lines drawn on sand by boys with swords, definitions are created by those in power to undermine differences.

If you were stood before the leaders of the world, what would you say to them?

I wouldn’t waste my breathe: the “leaders” implied in the question are mere puppets (in my opinion). A true leader builds a better tomorrow. The current “world leaders” use fear to drive profit, that’s not leadership.

And finally my last question is in fact one written by Freddie Mercury in the song “Is This the World We Created”:

Yes, This is the world we created, and we can change it for the better too, or destruct it by believing someone else will sort out the problem. Let’s not blame, instead take responsibility and do what we can (however little this may seem).

Mind Behind SchizoFranic

New and upcoming musician, SchizoFranic, answers our questions!


If you had to name one song from any genre that really speaks to you, which one would it be and why?
Nat King Cole - unforgettable my father played that song on the saxophone to me when I was 14 years old at a school function. I remember I had to stand up in front of the whole school and I was thinking to myself that's my dad. I was never so proud as I was that day that my father played unforgettable for me.

Are you a Mulder or Scully? Do you believe aliens have visited planet earth and if so what do you think they think about mankind?
Well, I'd have to say I'm a Mulder I believe with every fibre of my being, that aliens have visited us and they walk amongst us. I think aliens might be disappointed in mankind. Because mankind is so destructive. We destroy our own planet by our waste. We stand by and watch others starve in foreign countries. I think aliens would think that we have a lot to learn.

What was the happiest day of your life and why?
The happiest day of my life would probably be the day I received my certificate for graphic design. I didn't think I'd be able to make it through that course.

If “God” (whatever your idea is on that) were stood before you now, what one question would you ask him/her and why?
I would ask God why is there so much suffering in the world. I would ask because every time you turn on the TV or maybe listen to the radio you always hear a story of 
someone suffering in some kind of way, either starving or homeless.

As an expressive artist in the music industry, how does the state of the planet make you feel?
State of the planet makes me feel a bit sad, because as a human race we should be one, but instead we fight each other over stupid situations like power, money, land.

Do you think as a person of some influence that there is a duty on us to help influence humanity for the better?
Yes most definitely I think each and every one of us has a duty to help influence humanity for the better. In the world nowadays we need more visionaries to unite the people.

If you were stood before the leaders of the world, what would you say to them?
I would say to them the leaders of the world please stop the madness, stop the war and please come together as one and unite and stand together.

And finally my last question is in fact one written by Freddie Mercury in the song “Is This the World We Created”?
Sadly it is the world that we created, but there's always hope that we can make it better. To stand together all countries as one.

You can find out more about SchizoFranic here https://linktr.ee/SchizoFranic

Get Your Vibe On!

VIBES by SchizoFranic

Adoring You 

Born Free
Every Single Moment

Everything I Have
In my Head
In your Eyes
Needing you, on the other side.
Open Heart
Thoughts of you Till the End of Time
Waves

When you create electronica, titles matter.

Music is emotion materialised.

Born into this world, carried on an outstretched hand.

“This is my gift to you. Please … make it yours.”

Music matters.
People matter.
We are born free.
Be you.

SchizoFranic (@FranicSchizo on Twitter) has released her new album on Minds Behind the Music Records, the charitable label. An album for “Thinker Listeners”, as Coen Rhys called it. Give it a spin or 108 … I am sure you will love it just like I did! My personal favourite is “In your Eyes”. On all major streaming services - here: https://songwhip.com/schizofranic/vibes


Review by Håkon (“Hawk”) aka mAncient is an artist and monk. He can be found on the new Fenix360-app: https://mancient.fenix360.net

Feeling Nostalgic?

Nostalgia by satosii

Satosii is a Twitter friend from Tokyo, who creates wistful electronica landscapes.

Nostalgia is a mellow and kind composition that shows the power of music to construct images …

For me … The long summerdays of childhood. My first real keyboard, a Korg M1, on which I typed in patches from Keyboard Magazine. Small moments … the bird that, as I write these words, flitters around in a bush outside my window.

The LoFi vibe, enhanced by guitars and pianos, the minor keys that are punctuated by bursts of well-placed dissonance, sometimes going into Asian scales that at first may sound strange to a Western ear ...

Quote from satosii’s Spotify bio: “Every sky repeats life and death, light and dark”

Lend your ear to satosii. Twitter: @satosii_music

Article by mAncient

(Håkon likes music. @mancient_com on Twitter).

Above Image: "Sunset over Lilla Le (by mAncient)"

We Are Not Alone...

The Coherent Alliance - “Forest Child” preview

A review by mAncient

Sometimes you can tell.

Tell that there is a story behind the song.

‘cause - let’s face it … there are some songs that seem to be made by an algorithm rather than a human being.

TCA (Twitter: @coherent_music) creates electronica. And here is the story behind his, as yet unreleased, track (premieres on www.radio-dark-tunnel.net on NYE - 22:00-00:00 CEST, and later the same day on his YouTube).

What will you get to hear?

ASMR is a fascinating thing. “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response” - aka “Brain Message”, it comes in different forms. The tingly, pleasant feeling you get with specific sounds and frequencies - or the horrible feel of a shovel scraping tarmac.

The intro of Forest Child, with the LoFi-sounding treble combined with a thunder blast, sets the song up perfectly. Then a vocal line drives through your body. Makes your fingers want to dance.

Actually, that goes for the whole track. I am typing this in beat with the rhythm, and my fingers are searching for the keys of my Yamaha.

This is so complex, yet so seamless. Spiritual voices that soar, perfectly placed arpeggios, a bass that grates and moves … wow.

Since I can’t share the song, here is the story behind Anthony’s track. And if you get chills reading this, just wait until you hear “Forest Child”!

"I was woken up by a brilliant white light shining through my window when I was 9 years old...

I ran to the window and witnessed a giant orb of light moving seamlessly through the dense forest that was behind my house.

I knew instantly that this was some kind of profound event, because the forest was so thick that it was difficult even for a person to walk through easily, let alone a vehicle.

I watched the orb come to a stand still in a nearby field, and after about 10 seconds the orb vanished and everything went pitch dark again.

I went back to sleep and what followed were what I can only describe as lucid dreams of the event replaying over and over, each time revealing more details that I did not quite understand. In the dreams, I was visiting the field that the object was sitting in...

So the next day I went to investigate. What followed from that day on were many mysterious events and experiences that some find difficult to believe. You will be able to find out more about this event and what followed on my website soon”.

Here is his website: https://thecoherentalliance.carrd.co

The Coherent Alliance is also a part of the Minds Behind the Music-movement.

Art by Esoterica Art Agency 

Haakon Rian Mancient Ueland (@mancient_com om Twitter) is a Buddha. This was his Bodhisattva vow: https://songwhip.com/mancient/c-@-shangrila
He can be quite dense at times. According to his daughter Anna.

Music Review Time...

mAncient Reviews

Restless Mosaic (@restlessmosaic on Twitter) comes from Seattle, Washington. Location doesn't really matter - what matters is the deep curiosity evident in this statement: "Mosaics are intricate and beautiful and expressive, but they're stuck to where they are. If you were a sentient mosaic and everybody walked on you, wouldn't you be restless? And wouldn't you take in as much as you could when you broke free?

You get it. Welcome. There's much left to explore."

That, and the music, of course.

I was recommended to listen to "There's much left to Explore" and "Desert Scorpion".

The syncopation of the first tracks intro attracts. The 8-bit pad, slightly detuned, keeps it. And then, the dissonance increases, before the arpeggio resolves it. Complex and challenging, as a mosaic should be.

Just as you start to wonder - will nothing more happen? - the beat sets in. And then, there is only beat. That grows and builds. A little world music-ey solo instrument creates tension.

"Desert Scorpion" is another track from the same album, both available on Bandcamp (https://restlessmosaic.bandcamp.com)

This one gave me UK vibe. Olde English instruments mixed with electronic pads. Knights galloping to battle, a little piano that is offset by a French Horn (?), accordion and brass ...

This is not music for the masses, though it should be. It is music that dares, that doesn't care about genres.

Thank you for the journey!

Haakon Rian Mancient Ueland is the father of three children, and the brother of one dog. His music genre is called Earth House, as is his charity, church, and label. His track, Warriors, was part of #MBTM-s first charity albums.
https://www.mancient.one

Foggy Monday

A Review By mAncient

I am listening to "FOGGY MONDAY feat. Slavin Savin" by The Coherent Alliance (Twitter: @COHERENT_MUSIC) and Svitlana Martínez.

And ... I am sorry to say this, but you won't be able to listen to it before January 16'th.

What immediately struck me about this track is that it has the same vibe as one of my absolute favourites from 1991: Opus III's "It's a Fine Night". The beat drives you forward - dancing; the etheric vocals lifts you up, as does the arpeggio piano line that seems to fade in and out of consciousness, and the drop hits like a green bomb.

I have to concentrate in order to type. My fingers wants to dance, too!

Amazing production. I love it when I notice new details every time I listen to a song.

Trollheads Nessi (Instagram: @Trollheads_Nessi) is not fond of TCA. She felt my joy and heard my feet tappin' the beat - I am typing this at 3am - and woke up.


By Haakon Rian Mancient Ueland (Twitter: @mancient_com) who has a long name. He recently made it even longer by adding H.R.H. to it, as he became Grand Duke in the decentralized sovereign kingdom of https://www.kingdom-of-atlantis.com. His healing music and various writings can be found here: https://www.mancient.one.

The Coherent Alliance

Is There Hope for the Crestfallen?

Today we are taking a closer look at The Coherent Alliance and the debut album 'Singularity' that was released back in October 2020.

In particular we wanted to break down 2 songs from the album that stood out the most, and looking closely both provide a very important message indeed.

Hope for the Crestfallen

This song takes listeners on journey through space and time and follows the story from a group of individuals known as 'The Coherent Alliance'.

They exist within a fictional post-apocalyptic world where the human race no longer communicates by speech, but instead through the expression of dance, connection and emotion.

The music video captures this stunningly, where we can see scenes from a world once forgotten as the last survivors of the human race express their anger and disappointment through various forms of contemporary dance.

The music really takes listeners on a journey that is one of reminiscence, healing and emotion.

We asked Anthony about what inspired him to write 'Hope for the Crestfallen' and here is what he had to say...

"I wanted to capture a story within musical form and started experimenting with different layers of textures and sounds. I really wanted to put emotion into the song and highlight through the use of sound a message of unity and healing...

I was aiming to recreate the voice of the universe and one true source, and as a result 'Hope for the Crestfallen' was born."

The message here is clear, you don't know what you have got until it's gone and the time for action is now.

Take a listen to the song below... Find a quiet spot, focus on your breath and just allow the music to guide you.

SINGULARITY

The second song we looked at is the title release 'SINGULARITY' which aims to expose listeners to the bizarre world of industry, manufacturing, automation and how it is causing the planet to become desolate.

By watching the music video, the message behind the song is unmistakable. As we search for life on other planets throughout our solar system and universe, we are failing to recognise life here on earth and just like when a fuse has been lit, time is quickly running out.

Anthony told us "I was feeling angry about how we constantly consume and pump out toxic pollution into our atmosphere whilst the world around us is falling apart. As much as I advocate and show support for the discovery of other civilisations and connecting with them by exchanging knowledge, I truly believe we have much work to do here first. My message behind the song is simple, think about your actions before you witness everything burning up before you"

Check out 'SINGULARITY' below:

It appears that Anthony and The Coherent Alliance wrote the album as a warning to mankind and the real question is, what can you do as an individual before it's too late?

Support Minds Behind The Music HERE

Follow the work of the Born Free Foundation HERE

If you wish to find out more about The Coherent Alliance and his music, you can follow him on Twitter HERE 

Why Bother?

Musician, Coen Rhys, Explains Why...

“Through care, courtesy and creativity we can undo the harm, rebuild what we have lost and make a constant change for better”

As an artist who writes music to diaries, my thoughts of this mad yet beautiful world, when the #MBTM opportunity arose to raise awareness and hopefully help the world continue being beautiful (and ideally less mad)… I jumped at the chance.

The idea of collating multiple perspectives through words, music, honesty and heartfelt hope for a better place: with one goal in mind is a simple one. In a world of constant conflict, I also find it refreshing. #forgivewar #praisepeace

I am a strong believer of leaving something in a better state than you find it… through care, courtesy and creativity we can undo the harm, rebuild what we have lost and make a constant change for better! #littleoldyou #littleoldme

I am proud to be part of the #MBTMfamily… and look forward to what we can collectively achieve. Listen to the MBTM album here: ALBUM

“The simplest of things, the hardest to reach: It’s time to start now”- Coen Rhys

Why Did He Do It?

Why did I get involved with the Minds Behind The Music Project?

I have been involved in music since the age of 13 when I discovered that I had a talent for producing DJ mix sets and making compositions on my computer. Ever since then music has quite literally been my life but I had never really felt content or comfortable about the direction I wanted to take my career in.

After I had released my debut album back in October 2020, although I had received some really good and positive feedback, I did not feel like what I was doing satisfied me or was making any kind of positive change in the world.

I wanted fame and fortune as a result of my music, but I knew that's not what I really wanted at-all. What I actually wanted was to promote a positive message and have a positive impact on my listeners lives, but never really knew how I could do this.

That is when I was introduced to Minds Behind The Music, and after I saw what the project was aiming to do and how they support the Born Free Foundation I instantly knew I wanted to get involved.

I recognised my talents for creating music that people enjoyed, and decided that I could turn those talents into a way of helping the world and the environment.

So I sat down, wrote a song and then submitted it to the project and the cause. I have since ended up also writing music reviews for their new blog, and for once I feel that my involvement in music is having a positive change on the world, the environment and other people's lives.

The project has given me focus, and nothing can be more important than the world around us and a future that could potentially affect all of us.

There needs to be a change in the world, we can all do our bit and it's helped me to understand that the change starts right here within ourselves.

I feel proud to be involved, and it is something that everybody can get involved with too!

I have since changed direction within my music career and moving forward, aim to promote a message of peace, unity and awareness about the challenges we face as a civilisation on Planet Earth.

Anthony (The Coherent Alliance). 

Find Anthony on Twitter HERE

Find out more about Minds Behind the Music HERE

Find out more about The Born Free Foundation HERE

Get Involved and Write for our BLOG

It's a Coherent Alliance!

Who Is The Coherent Alliance That Everybody is Talking About?

"The Coherent Alliance is a Dance, EBM and Future-Pop solo artist from Telford, England. The brains behind the project is Anthony Hurney who started his music career at the age of 13 when he was performing live classic trance sets on his school radio station during lunch breaks.

This is where he first learned of his favorite and most inspirational trance artists such as Chicane and Tiesto.

Moving forward, Anthony then discovered alternative artists such as Rammstein, VNV Nation and Assemblage 23.

We caught up with Anthony who told us "I remember growing up as a young teenager and loving the uplifting sound of classic trance... I found Chicane's track 'Saltwater' so inspirational and the epic and beautiful celtic vocals of Moya Brennan fitted so perfectly, that song always gave me goosebumps and took me to another place. As I became a little older and started college, a friend introduced me to a band called Rammstein which paved the way for my taste in heavy rock and industrial music. I was then introduced to an artist known as Assemblage 23 and the album 'Storm' back in 2004... I was absolutely blown away by Tom Shear's use of synths, melancholic and emotional vocals and upbeat drum tracks with a house vibe. I had never heard music like it before, and it helped me to discover that dance music can be dark but also uplifting. I found the songs 'You haven't earned it' and 'let the wind erase me' absolutely breath-taking".

After spending several years as the guitarist and lead vocalist in local rock and metal bands, Anthony decided it was time to launch The Coherent Alliance and released his debut album 'SINGULARITY' in October 2020.

Since then his music has appeared on his local BBC Music Introducing radio show several times and his sound has impressed fans and inspired fellow musicians alike.

Starting off as an instrumentalist, Anthony and The Coherent Alliance plan to release a new EP Album in 2022 called 'Nocturnal Restitution' which will feature full vocals.

Anthony said "Nocturnal Restitution signals a landmark in my music career to date, and will be bringing a late 90s / early 2000s EBM vibe with a more contemporary twist... Watch out for this one folks, I am producing something very special indeed".

Also featuring on Minds Behind The Music Album 2, The Coherent Alliance's new sound is set to hit the waves in 2022 where all angle's of his inspirations will be demonstrated.

You can check out his debut album 'SINGULARITY' on BandCamp HERE: https://coherent-alliance.bandcamp.com/album/singularity

Follow The Coherent Alliance on Twitter: https://twitter.com/COHERENT_MUSIC

She's From Krypton

Track Review

KAL-ELLE JAGGER (@KalElleJagger on Twitter) comes from Argo City, Krypton. She has seen many sides of life - not all of them pleasant. 

I am an intuitive healer. Perhaps that was what so immediately made my ears go into “wow” mode when I first heard her song, Wild Horses, which is available in an original production by Syst3m Glitch (@Syst3mGlitch) and a remix by Droid Bishop (@DroidBishop) - the combination of a song which you can dance to, that also carries a flavour of longing and loss. 

I am at a loss to say which one is my favourite. The original is a lit production, with a combination of Synthwave and etheric, epic guitars, while the remix brings me right back to the eighties - in the hyper-modern universe of Droid Bishop. Which one do you prefer? 

Haakon also does a little production. Some which can be heard here: https://audius.co/mancient_one 

Get Karmaa

WHO is KARMAA?

We asked.... KARMAA is only a small part of who I am and was brought here to be. Music has been a part of who I am since I can remember. It's like breathing for me. Whether I'm listening to the radio, creating music myself, or even thinking of lyrics, music just stays in circulation. It's how I communicate my deepest thoughts, my every goal, and my biggest fears. I am a big advocate for mental health awareness, equality and paying it forward.

I intend to be a difference maker and a leader of change. I've never been one to stick to the rules and never intend to follow the crowd. I was raised to be who I am and to be proud of it. My ultimate goal is to inspire the uninspired and change lives by being able to relate to others and talk about "taboo" topics that others don't like to or won't acknowledge and speak on such as being queer, battling depression and anxiety, having had suicidal thoughts, etc.

Being part of the LGBTQ community I want those discovering themselves to know they're not alone. This has heavily influenced many of my songs and is a known fact about me. I want people to know that it's okay to be proud of who you are and love yourself. Show your pride and never be ashamed of it. Live and love your life, love yourself and others shamelessly, and embrace who you are. There's only one you, flaunt it.

Track 1: Do You See Me?
This song embodies my struggle with anxiety. It refers to lost opportunities, relationships, etc due to being so consumed in my own mind.

Track 2: You Don't Know
This song references my battles with depression and no matter how open I am about it people still don't know me, understand me or care.

Track 3: VICES
This song describes the constant battle in life of feeling like I'm in rock bottom and can't get out. I'm not enough. No matter what I do, the pain never lets up. I'm not the person my family wanted and I'm not where I hoped to be. Everyday feels like I'm slowly going deeper and deeper into the quick sand.

Track 4: work in progress
This is a favorite already and is the most relatable based on the lyrics. This song is a reminder that we are perfectly imperfect. We have flaws. Everyday is a reminder that we have an opportunity to be better than we were the day before. We're all DIY projects.

Track 5: I Got THIS
Is the perfect closer. This track is meant to inspire everyone to look in the mirror and tell yourself "I GOT THIS!" We make mistakes but it's not how many times we fall but how many times we get back up and keep going.

This project drops Jan 7th but here are some links!

Distrokid Pre-Save: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/karmaa/this-is-me

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1J6GFbFd6KeiPNzx44ngVj?si=FhsPfQHXS5mYE3ofTBvqCQ