David Cloyd: The Launch of Hook & Ladder Records

This is a re-post of an open letter from David Cloyd regarding the launch of his own record label, Hook & Ladder Records, on ECR Music Group. Bravo, cheers, and salud, David!

Dear Friends:

I'm so excited and happy to share this news with you . . . Hook & Ladder Records, my new imprint on ECR Music Group, will officially launch on January 22, 2013.

When I released my first album Unhand Me, You Fiend! on Engine Company Records back in 2009, I already knew that I'd found a home, a place where I could realize my musical dreams and evolve as an artist. Since then, I've helped the label with over 20 releases by over 15 artists on 8 different labels; I've been a part of the label's rebranding and relaunching as ECR Music Group; and I've become the Executive Vice President of Creative Operations.

Today, I'm proud to realize yet another dream . . . the dream of owning my own record label . . .

. . . a label with worldwide physical and digital distribution.
. . . a label with worldwide retail promotion at over 100 global retail outlets.
. . . a label with direct frontline placement at iTunes, Amazon, and eMusic.
. . . a label with exclusive placement, partnership and promotion with Spotify, Pandora, Last.FM, Shazam, and others.
. . . a label where I record and produce all of the music—music that I am passionate about, music that is truly important to me.

Hook & Ladder's first release, Caroline Fenn's debut album Fragile Chances, is already available for exclusive pre-order on iTunes. This coming Monday, November 26, it will also be available for pre-release on Amazon, and there is much more to come leading up to the worldwide release in January.

The first time I heard Caroline Fenn play “Hiding In The Attic,” I said to her, quite simply, “There is no way this is the first song you’ve ever written.” We worked together as she continued to write song after compelling song, each as equally captivating and disarmingly fresh as the first, until it was clear that there was a genuine body of work with vision and originality. At that point, there was only one thing to do—record a full-length album. The sessions that followed resulted in Fragile Chances, an organic and spellbinding album produced and recorded by yours truly, mixed and mastered by Blake Morgan at ECR Studios in NYC, and with stunning artwork by DM Stith of Asthmatic Kitty Records.

Preview Fragile Chances on iTunes >>

I start Hook & Ladder with the same spirit and ethos that has helped me to develop each new aspect of my music career. I am committed to helping artists accomplish long-term creative and commercial success under the same guiding principle as ECR Music Group: all Hook & Ladder artists will own one hundred percent of their master recordings.

I want to thank all of my family, friends, and fans for your support—I wouldn't be here without you. I especially want to thank Blake Morgan for all of his guidance—as my producer, my label founder and CEO, my mentor, and my friend.

It's been a profound and incredible journey adding this new dimension to my musical life, and I couldn't be more proud of the album that's helping to start it all. I promise . . . this is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more exciting news updates as we approach the official launch date.

Cheers,

David

Posted on 11/19/12