Here at Sonicbids we consider ourselves to not only be a music company, but a part of the technology industry as well. With new music sharing gadgets and applications popping up left and right it can be difficult for artists to keep up with the trends in technology, so we were delighted to find out that one of our artists Data Romance would be using Bluetooth technology to allow fans to download tracks directly to their mobile phones at upcoming dates on the IDentity Festival Tour.
We were able to speak with the Canadian duo of Ajay Bhattacharyya and Amy Kirkpatrick about this new technology as well as the IDentity Festival and what they think could be the next big trend in sharing music with fans. See what they had to say below and make sure to head to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, MA this weekend to catch the IDentity Festival if you will be in the Boston area.
Sonicbids: Where did the idea come from for the Bluetooth downloads?
Ajay: As a band we've always been fascinated by new technology related to music. This idea was brought to us by our label and we were intrigued. We're not trying to be exclusive with any of the technology. I prefer to look at it as just one more medium with which people can pick up our music.
Sonicbids: First there were QR Codes and now the Bluetooth downloads which you have embraced, what do you think will be the next big technologically innovative way to bring music to fans?
Ajay: That's a near impossible question to answer. I'd personally like to see a universal hard wire connection on all mobile devices, phones and iPads (like if phones were built with USB ports). If this were the case we could simply have merch booths with a row of male USB sticks that people could plug their devices into, transfer right there and have the album.
Sonicbids: As the music industry becomes more and more DIY how important has it been for you as a band to have a social media presence?
Amy: It's very important for us to be able to connect directly with our fans, and social media is necessary for this. We'd never want to be that band you can't get a hold of, or who doesn't answer fans’ questions themselves. Plus, it's just the fun part of what we do. Because of Facebook and Twitter, we can to find out that someone made it out to a show, or heard our music for the first time.
Sonicbids: Who are you most excited to share the bill with at the IDentity Festival and why?
Amy: We're huge Modeselktor fans, and strangely enough we've been sharing a tour bus with them. I'm a huge fan of Holy Ghost, and DJ Shadow as well. They're the artists that really sick out to me on this festival. The Crystal Method shows have been amazing, and the one night Skrillex played lived up to its hype for sure. Rusko's sets are always exciting to watch as well. Honestly I just try to take advantage of the acts daily, and see as many as possible.
Sonicbids: What bands/records are on heavy rotation for you right now?
Ajay: On a festival tour you're surrounded by music all of your waking hours and so much of it is amazing, but it's not like I've listened to anything regularly. Before I left I was following absolutely everything coming from the October's Very Own camp (Drakes' vanity label). Checking out Frank Ocean's mixtape, and grabbing all of the new Bjork stuff that I could. Also I've been getting into more pure techno stuff since writing with a DJ named Audrey Napoleon. Stuff like Funkagenda, Threesixty, and D. Ramirez.
Read more about Data Romance here.
