NEW YORK (Not Lame Recordings/ www.janaperi.com) - NYC power pop/rocker, JANA PERI (www.janaperi.com), is one of countless indie musicians who feel they've been overlooked by the music industry mainstream because their brand of talent doesn't fit into some preconceived notion of what is popular or 'pop' music. The singer/songwriter/guitarist, like so many others, has chosen to release her music on her own. Apparently someone has been listening…and liking. Revenge, as they say, is sweet, and comes in the form of International Pop Overthrow – Volume 7: 2004.
PERI's song
'Go Ahead' is featured on the three-CD collection alongside contributions by such prominent pop tunesmiths as Tommy Keene and Jason Falkner. The compilation was put out by power pop and melodic rock indie label, Not Lame Recordings - a label whose motto is 'good music for good people.'
'Go Ahead' will also appear on PERI's forthcoming full-length CD. The track was produced by Daniel Rey, who is best known for his association with seminal NY punk band, The Ramones. Rey also played some guitar on the song. PERI and her band (Jim Stellato – bass guitar/background vocals, Rob Holm – drums/percussion/background vocals) are still in the midst of recording the new Rey-produced CD, which is slated for release later in 2004.
International Pop Overthrow is not the only compilation on which PERI's music can be found this year. This past spring, PERI was featured in ROCKRGRL Magazine because 'Dating Sucks,' a song from her eponymous, self-produced, self-released debut EP, was chosen by a panel of music industry judges to be the lead track on ROCKRGRL's Discoveries 2004.
INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW (IPO) is a pop music festival launched in Los Angeles in 1998 by music writer David Bash. The festival now takes place in a number of US cities (and for the first time last year in Liverpool, England) on a regular basis. Each International Pop Overthrow features many of the best pop bands from around the world. PERI has already performed at IPO festivals in NYC and Chicago. This October, she will be following in the footsteps of her idols, The Beatles, as she has been invited to play IPO at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool. PERI is planning to do some additional shows in the UK as well.
PERI feels 'Go Ahead' is the perfect theme song for the current climate of the music industry and how it treats artists. It is about believing in yourself and pursuing your dreams in spite of negativity from people who are meant to love and encourage you, but do just the opposite. The songwriter reveals: 'The bridge of the song is about a very famous record producer who was unnecessarily mean to me. I had approached him for some feedback on my music because I respected his opinion. I viewed him as a potential mentor. The coward was nice to my face, but tore me apart in a series of nasty e-mails. I've had similar experiences with other industry veterans. They seem to actually take pleasure in trying to break someone's spirit under the guise of providing career advice. Do they actually think I am going to give up my music career just because they don't support me?'
In the liner notes for International Pop Overthrow – Volume 7, Bash writes: 'There have been more changes in the music industry than the number of reels on the Watergate tape recorder, because the industry has forgotten what originally brought them to prominence: the song. They felt that they were untouchable, impervious to the disparate pairing of the new technology and grassroots ethic that was slowly but surely taking a firm toehold in the music community. In 2004 it's becoming abundantly clear that history will repeat itself, David will defeat Goliath, and a new regime will take over: the D.I.Y musician. International Pop Overthrow is proud to represent that eager, worthy group of people, many of whom are displaying their craft on this collection.'
International Pop Overthrow – Volume 7, which boasts 69 tracks by various IPO artists, will be given out as a complimentary gift to audience members attending the IPO festival in Los Angeles, CA, which began July 16 and runs through August 1. It can also be purchased direct from the Not Lame website at www.notlame.com while supplies last.
Listeners can preview 'Go Ahead' at www.janaperi.com. For more information about International Pop Overthrow, including a complete schedule, visit www.internationalpopoverthrow.com.
