SPV's SUPERBALL MUSIC Imprint To Launch In U.S.

SPV's new Superball Music imprint, which debuted in Europe on October 1, 2007, will officially launch in the U.S. in May 2009. It promises to specialize in supporting and promoting particularly talented and innovative artists. The label's focus will be on keen, young rock acts with a stylistic range that is centered on independent and alternative music, as well as acts that transcend genres and include a variety of contemporary directions. Superball Music aims to provide a platform and a "home" for these artists by specifically focusing on innovative music with commercial ambitions.

Label boss Thomas Waber explains that Superball Music's philosophy relies on a balanced combination of young contemporary artists and experienced industry aficionados. "We want to work closely with our musicians, supporting them both artistically as well as in a business sense," he said. Waber is one of the more experienced German label managers of the past ten years, having looked after popular artists and fan favorites such as DEVIN TOWNSEND, OSI and KING'S X. "Superball Music relies on a successful balance between new, unknown talents and bands who have already made a name for themselves on the music scene with previous releases," he says. "We're mainly interested in artists who are innovative and eager, who express themselves creatively and want to play live as often as possible, whether it's in front of 50,000 or 50 people."

Superball Music has deliberately joined forces with a globally operating distribution system to ensure that the label's future signings will benefit from strong representation on an international level. "One of the main things about this label is that we are actually fans of the artists we sign," says Waber. "That's the best prerequisite for the acts concerned to be able to work successfully and with full support from their label."

Will there be stylistic boundaries that will be discounted by Superball Music? "Hardly," says Waber. "The main focus will be on contemporary and interesting music. We are on the lookout for inventive bands whose music nevertheless lives up to commercial expectations without relying on a mediocre, standard pattern of approach".

Superball Music has announced its first signing with British act OCEANSIZE, which is scheduled to release its third album, "Frames", in the U.S. on May 19. The label will also release "Avoid the Light", the debut album from German post-rockers LONG DISTANCE CALLING, on May 19.