The Unsigned

Everyone knows somebody who’s either in or who has played in a band.  We all know someone who’s tried to make a go of it in music.

We’ve all celebrated one friend’s first paying gig; we’ve all cheered the first time they’ve taken to the stage, applauded as they played their first set.

But not many of us know someone who’s been lucky enough be able to make money or earn a living at it.  Few of us know anyone who can devote themselves full time to their music; few of us know someone who has been able to “make it”.

Last month, I examined the lives of working musicians who had succeeded in getting signed to a label, either major or independent.  During the course of my research and interviews for that article, I realized that most of these “successful” or “working” artists started out just like those people we all know; just folks playing in a band, trying to make a go of it in music.

This month I set out to speak with these working musicians, the unrecognized, the unknown, the unsigned.  I wanted to speak with musicians who, while not necessarily making a living from their music, were nevertheless making a serious effort at a real career in music.

Among the acts I spoke with were the recently-signed The Moog, as well as Izzo, a local Hip-Hop performer, and fledgling band La Defense.  Some of these acts have pressed and sold independent EPs, some haven’t.

After two years of fighting their way through the not-always friendly Hungarian music scene, The Moog are now signed to a label, promoting ‘Sold For Tomorrow’, their first CD.

As a young man, Izzo, AKA Ismael Cody used Rap as an outlet to deal with personal family problems; Izzo has been part of several moderately successful Quebec rap groups, playing showcases and even headlining a few shows.  Now as a solo artist, Izzo has released two self-produced CDs and is working towards breaking into the mainstream Hip Hop consciousness.

La Defense is a rock band made up of seasoned performers starting their new project from scratch.

Regardless of the genre of music they are involved with, each of these acts are working industriously, skilfully, towards not any pre-defined success, but simply on getting their music out there, to be heard and enjoyed:

Izzo says: “If you do what you’re supposed to do in the right way, and you push your limit, if you really got talent, one day or the other success will come. So that means that if you’re singing, dancing, DJing, or doing something and you’re good at it and you don’t succeed, it’ll be because of you.”