Weathervane Music
Encyclopedia
Weathervane Music is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Weathervane Music's mission is to create community, opportunity, and resources that advance the careers of deserving musicians while promoting a healthy independent music ecosystem.
, MeWithoutYou
, Marissa Nadler
, Dr. Dog
and The Dead Milkmen) founded Weathervane Music with friend and musician Bill Robertson. The two initially set out to create projects that would bring quality, culturally significant music to society despite a collapsing music industry. Initial advisors to the project included Kristin Thomson from the Future of Music Coalition
and the 90s indie rock band Tsunami
, Bruce Warren from WXPN
, video producer Andy Williams from Shooter Post and Transfer, entertainment attorney Paul Dickman and Mark Schoneveld of the music blog, YVYNYL.
In 2009, Weathervane Music created a video series (The Weathervane Music Project Series), showing the birth of a song by emerging independent musicians in a high-end recording studio. In 2010 Weathervane partnered with WXPN radio, the non-commercial radio station from the University of Pennsylvania, to produce the series, which as of that point was re-branded Shaking Through. This series has featured artists such as Sharon Van Etten
, Twin Sister and Reading Rainbow, as well as others. Shaking Through artists are selected with the help of guest curators, who are well known and respected members of the music and arts community. Past curators have included members of well known bands, music writers, radio programmers, and record producers.
In June 2010, Peter English, a musician, artist, and graphic designer, became the Assistant Director of Weathervane Music, as well as Producer of Shaking Through.
Bill Robertson - Founder, Director of Development
Peter English - Assistant Director, Producer and Director of Shaking Through
Matthew Donaruma - Director of Communications
Allison Bieber - Head of Legal Affairs, Assistant Development Director
Bill Robertson - Secretary and Treasurer
Kristin Thomson - Future of Music Coalition, Founder of Simple Machine Records
Bruce Warren - WXPN Radio
Paul Dickman, Esq. - Paul Dickman Entertainment
Mark Schoneveld - YVYNYL.com
Andy Williams - Shooters Post and Transfer
Andy Weisman - Betaworks
Jenn Gross
Christopher Jackson - Arthur Green and Associates
Selected artists record a previously unreleased, original song in a high-end recording studio (Philadelphia’s Miner Street Recordings) over the course of two to three days. The episodes are shot in hi-definition as documentary shorts under the artistic supervision of the series producer/director Peter English. Episodes are released on the Shaking Through website on a monthly basis, excluding the months of July and December. The episodes include video interviews, information on the recording and engineering process, and a free download of the featured track.
Shaking Through has featured artists such as Sharon Van Etten
, Twin Sister
, Reading Rainbow, among others. Shaking Through artists are selected with the help of guest curators. Past curators have included members of well known bands such as Dr. Dog
and The Antlers
, music writers such as Mark Schoneveld and The Pelly Twins, radio programmers such as Bruce Warren, record label owners such as Ben Swanson, and record producers such as Quentin Stoltzfus.
Since January 2011, Weathervane Music has also initiated a “Stems Project” in which raw multi-tracks and mix-stems from Shaking Through recording sessions are available to the worldwide creative community for download. Through access to these tracks, users can remix and share their own versions of songs featured on the Shaking Through series.
Weathervane has also been praised by Pitchfork
, The Philadelphia Inquirer
, and Paste Magazine. In March 2011, Tri-State Indie wrote that “Weathervane grants musicians the opportunity to create music while maintaining and appropriate standard of living while making a career out of music.” Additionally, Weathervane projects have been featured on various music blogs.
Background
In 2008, Philadelphia record producer Brian McTear (Matt Pond PAMatt Pond PA
Matt Pond PA is a New York based band formed in Philadelphia by singer-songwriter Matt Pond. They have released eight LPs and eight EPs since 1998....
, MeWithoutYou
MewithoutYou
Me Without You, stylized as mewithoutYou and abbreviated as mwY, is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band consists of vocalist Aaron Weiss, guitarist Michael Weiss, bassist Greg Jehanian and drummer Rickie Mazzotta. MewithoutYou's music is generally dominated by...
, Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler is an American dream-folk singer-songwriter and fine artist based in Boston.-Early life:Marissa Nadler was exposed to art at a young age through her mother Pamela, an abstract painter, and her older brother Stuart, a guitarist and writer...
, Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is a psychedelic rock band from West Grove, Pennsylvania. Its lineup currently consists of Toby Leaman , Scott McMicken , Frank McElroy , Zach Miller , and Eric Slick . Lead vocal duties are shared between Leaman and McMicken, with all members contributing harmonies...
and The Dead Milkmen) founded Weathervane Music with friend and musician Bill Robertson. The two initially set out to create projects that would bring quality, culturally significant music to society despite a collapsing music industry. Initial advisors to the project included Kristin Thomson from the Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition is a U.S. 501 national non-profit organization specializing in education, research and advocacy for musicians with a focus on issues at the intersection of music technology, policy and law.- Background :...
and the 90s indie rock band Tsunami
Tsunami (band)
Tsunami was an American indie rock band from Arlington, Virginia, formed by housemates Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson in late 1990 to play at New Year's party...
, Bruce Warren from WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
, video producer Andy Williams from Shooter Post and Transfer, entertainment attorney Paul Dickman and Mark Schoneveld of the music blog, YVYNYL.
In 2009, Weathervane Music created a video series (The Weathervane Music Project Series), showing the birth of a song by emerging independent musicians in a high-end recording studio. In 2010 Weathervane partnered with WXPN radio, the non-commercial radio station from the University of Pennsylvania, to produce the series, which as of that point was re-branded Shaking Through. This series has featured artists such as Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.Her songs were described by the music website Pitchfork Media as having "some echoes of folk tradition but generally in a more personal, introspective space." NPR Music asserts: "Her songs are heartfelt without being...
, Twin Sister and Reading Rainbow, as well as others. Shaking Through artists are selected with the help of guest curators, who are well known and respected members of the music and arts community. Past curators have included members of well known bands, music writers, radio programmers, and record producers.
In June 2010, Peter English, a musician, artist, and graphic designer, became the Assistant Director of Weathervane Music, as well as Producer of Shaking Through.
Weathervane Staff
Brian McTear - Founder, Executive DirectorBill Robertson - Founder, Director of Development
Peter English - Assistant Director, Producer and Director of Shaking Through
Matthew Donaruma - Director of Communications
Allison Bieber - Head of Legal Affairs, Assistant Development Director
Board Members
Brian McTear - PresidentBill Robertson - Secretary and Treasurer
Kristin Thomson - Future of Music Coalition, Founder of Simple Machine Records
Weathervane Advisory Panel Members
Kristin Thomson - Future of Music Coalition, Founder of Simple Machine RecordsBruce Warren - WXPN Radio
Paul Dickman, Esq. - Paul Dickman Entertainment
Mark Schoneveld - YVYNYL.com
Andy Williams - Shooters Post and Transfer
Andy Weisman - Betaworks
Jenn Gross
Christopher Jackson - Arthur Green and Associates
Shaking Through
Shaking Through is a music and video web series produced by Weathervane Music and WXPN, the non-commercial public radio station from the University of Pennsylvania. The series, designed to show “the birth of a song” by an emerging independent artist, is the outgrowth of the Weathervane Music Project Series (2009), which was re-branded as Shaking Through when WXPN joined the project in 2010.Selected artists record a previously unreleased, original song in a high-end recording studio (Philadelphia’s Miner Street Recordings) over the course of two to three days. The episodes are shot in hi-definition as documentary shorts under the artistic supervision of the series producer/director Peter English. Episodes are released on the Shaking Through website on a monthly basis, excluding the months of July and December. The episodes include video interviews, information on the recording and engineering process, and a free download of the featured track.
Shaking Through has featured artists such as Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.Her songs were described by the music website Pitchfork Media as having "some echoes of folk tradition but generally in a more personal, introspective space." NPR Music asserts: "Her songs are heartfelt without being...
, Twin Sister
Twin Sister
Twin Sister is an American band from Long Island. Their music has been described as Chillwave, Indie pop Dream Pop and Disco and they have been compared to Cocteau Twins and Portishead...
, Reading Rainbow, among others. Shaking Through artists are selected with the help of guest curators. Past curators have included members of well known bands such as Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is a psychedelic rock band from West Grove, Pennsylvania. Its lineup currently consists of Toby Leaman , Scott McMicken , Frank McElroy , Zach Miller , and Eric Slick . Lead vocal duties are shared between Leaman and McMicken, with all members contributing harmonies...
and The Antlers
The Antlers
The Antlers is the student section of the University of Missouri basketball team.-History:The Antlers were formed in 1976 when a small section of 11 courtside seats in the school's basketball arena at that time, Hearnes Center, was made available to all students. At the time, all other prime level...
, music writers such as Mark Schoneveld and The Pelly Twins, radio programmers such as Bruce Warren, record label owners such as Ben Swanson, and record producers such as Quentin Stoltzfus.
Since January 2011, Weathervane Music has also initiated a “Stems Project” in which raw multi-tracks and mix-stems from Shaking Through recording sessions are available to the worldwide creative community for download. Through access to these tracks, users can remix and share their own versions of songs featured on the Shaking Through series.
Critical Response
Weathervane and the Shaking Through series have garnered positive responses from various media outlets. In a statement published on IFC’s website, journalist Grayson Currin wrote that Shaking through was “a trusted new series … for watching and discovering new music on the Internet.”Weathervane has also been praised by Pitchfork
Pitchfork
A pitchfork is an agricultural tool with a long handle and long, thin, widely separated pointed tines used to lift and pitch loose material, such as hay, leaves, grapes, dung or other agricultural materials. Pitchforks typically have two or three tines...
, The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
, and Paste Magazine. In March 2011, Tri-State Indie wrote that “Weathervane grants musicians the opportunity to create music while maintaining and appropriate standard of living while making a career out of music.” Additionally, Weathervane projects have been featured on various music blogs.