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Sojourn Records began with the simple mission of providing a home for artists who have talent and heart but need a platform to connect to an audience. Based out of Mark Ambrosino’s
Madhouse Studios in Queens, NY,
Sojourn believes in working with artists who are passionate about their music and helping them make great sounding records that deserve to have an audience. The studio is at the nucleus of the label and Ambrosino’s commitment and passion for making and producing great music is one of the major driving forces behind the label’s mission. As
Ambrosino states,“it pains me to see such talented artists work so hard on these incredible recordings only to realize that in all probability the general public will never get a chance to hear them.”
Given the reality that the traditional record label business model is broken, Sojourn believes in the opportunity that technology provides for independent artists and wants to leverage this technology to make it possible for great independent artists to reach their respective audiences. What this means on a practical basis is that
Sojourn will offer several avenues for artists, starting with the web-based, “free agent” model where there are no strings attached for the artist, and moving all the way to the more “traditional” signed artist model. The overarching philosophy is simple. The label will select artists who share in the values, both musically and philosophically, inherent within the Sojourn vision.
The common thread connecting Sojourn Artists is not so much a style or genre as it is a passion for music. In our minds, it’s that passion that transcends the music and really gets down inside the listener. It’s what Sojourn likes to refer to as “soul music”—music that touches people and resonates with them. Sojourn believes that many artists who are working hard and making great music will be excited by the prospect of having an innovative and supportive platform from which to sell and market their music. And with
Sojourn’s focus on developing a sense of community among the persons who visit the label’s website, Sojourn believes that all of the artists on the label will benefit as the community grows. What’s good for one will be good for all.
By combining the best of the old with the innovation of the new,
Sojourn believes a hybrid label of this type can provide a solution for a very troubled industry, while providing real value and opportunity for the working musician/singer-songwriter trying to reach a larger audience.
Mark Ambrosino and Tom Laverack are the co-founders of
Sojourn Records. Artists and musicians themselves, their passion for great music lies at the heart of the operation. With the label officially launching in 2008,
Sojourn’s first release will be Laverack’s fifth album,
Cave Drawings, produced by Ambrosino at the
The Madhouse. This release will be followed shortly by two additional releases from two unique NYC artists, Danny Kalb, legendary co-founder of the Blues Project, and Theo Eastwind, a subway musician and electrifying performer. In addition,
Sojourn will be releasing numerous “web artists” simultaneously.
Realizing early on that they needed assistance in getting their vision off the ground, Ambrosino and Laverack
reached out to George Howard, the former President of Rykodisc. As Ambrosino explains “George took the Sojourn project on and with his guidance and vision we’ve been able to build an innovative model, enlist artists, launch a website and continue to make records that will now have a vehicle to connect with audiences desperately searching for music that speaks to them.” In short,
Sojourn Records has arrived.
Sojourn wants to offer hope to independent artists that are looking for a real home for their music — not just an internet shopping bin where music is made available like the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Sojourn Records wants to help the indie artist who needs the best of what a label has to offer (value, legitimacy and a higher profile) without the downside (contracts, bad deals, unfair compensation). Contact Sojourn to ask questions about our model, find out how to make submissions.
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