I just love Guided by Voices
Hi, I’m Jamie, the guy behind Contact Buzz, a Lo-fi recording project based in Leeds. We work with artists to create exciting and authentic releases, using Tascam 4-track recorders to capture the human aspect of song writing, with imperfections and experimentation being embraced.
We make our own ‘Landline Mics’ that can turn your music into a long lost answering machine and release new music every Tuesday and Friday. Our goal is to tape the award-winning Leeds music scene and create a lo-fi community beyond that.
My love for lo-fi started where most musicians start, an obsession with a sound and a band. My obsession is Guided by Voices, a lo-fi indie rock band from Dayton, Ohio, who started in their basements and took ten years to even be acknowledged by the world.
This obsession developed into a search for authentic music and the creation of my band - Mince. We got to release our debut album this year - 12 tracks that I wrote two years ago, with the goal of creating something as real and raw as a Guided by Voices album.
When I listen to albums like Alien Lanes and Bee Thousand, I see what has been lost in music. I listen to these bands Mince were sharing slots on the radio with. They sounded so crisp and clear and glittery - but these songs didn’t embody the people writing it. They embodied the producers, the studios, the status quo and everyone upholding what ‘good’ music should sound like. Music lost what it was to be human.
The music industry says you need to be releasing a song every 4-8 weeks to grow. Recording one single at an established studio with an experienced producer can cost upwards of £600. You need to be forking out about five grand a year - not to mention promotion costs, rehearsal spaces and every other expense you incur as an artist.
It’s just not feasible for the vast majority!
Yeah, you can record your song on your laptop, but it’s always going to be judged by the industry as a failed attempt at imitating the studio sound. Musicians need a another option.
That’s when it hit me. . .
Bring Back Demos
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Bring back limitations
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Bring Back Tape
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Bring Back the Human Aspect
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Bring back the sm57
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Bring back mistakes
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Bring Back the Landline
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Bring Back Affordability
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Bring back Guided by Voices
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Bring back that feeling you get
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Bring Back The Camcorder
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bring back figuring it out
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Bring Back Analog
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bring back awkward
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Bring Back the 4-track
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bring back the joy that got sucked out of us
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Bring Back Daniel Johnston
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Bring back having to clean equipment
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Bring Back DIY
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BRING BACK imperfections
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Bring Back Demos - Bring back limitations - Bring Back Tape - Bring Back the Human Aspect - Bring back the sm57 - Bring back mistakes - Bring Back the Landline - Bring Back Affordability - Bring back Guided by Voices - Bring back that feeling you get - Bring Back The Camcorder - bring back figuring it out - Bring Back Analog - bring back awkward - Bring Back the 4-track - bring back the joy that got sucked out of us - Bring Back Daniel Johnston - Bring back having to clean equipment - Bring Back DIY - BRING BACK imperfections -
The Answer?