BIG STIR RECORDS is proud to announce the latest artist to officially join our roster: KAI DANZBERG, whose new single “Let Me Know” is available now, with a new album to follow early in 2019! 

KAI DANZBERG emerged to take the pop world by storm in 2018 with his self-produced album Pop Up Radio. Hailing from Hanover, Germany, Danzberg, who's only 25, wowed critics and listeners alike with his firm grasp of songcraft and studio technique, drawing sonic comparisons to legends like ELO while presenting a fresh take on classic pop. Like his California-based BSR labelmate ADDISON LOVE, Danzberg represents the new generation of power pop millennials, crafting hooks and harmonies to stand with the greats. 

Danzberg has been honing his craft since age 4, starting on drums and joining a German punk band by age 12. Around the same time, he taught himself guitar and took a deep dive into vintage sounds of Queen, Jellyfish, Chris Rainbow and of course The Beatles. Those influences shaped Pop Up Radio into the ambitious, hook-filled concoction that captured ears everywhere. 

Hailed as “the standard against which all 2018 releases will be measured”, the record's production and arrangements (all handled by Danzberg) evoked song cycles like A Night at the Opera and Pet Sounds, as the '70s-radio-ready sheen adorns a set of thematically-related songs. “The lyrics are very personal,” Danzberg explains. “It had to do with a relationship I had for 8 years, which broke up in early 2017.” That cathartic underpinning makes the record all the more accessible, and tunes like “Too Late” and “Just Listen to Me” show that a blend of passion and craft can still exhilarate in the right hands. 

The success of Pop Up Radio opened doors for the tireless Danzberg, who quickly began work on the followup with the assistance of new peers and heroes from the global pop community. Luminaries like DANA COUNTRYMAN, DAVID MYHR, and ROGER MANNING JR. (of Danzberg's beloved Jellyfish) all contributed to the record. Los Angeles songstress LISA MYCHOLS serves as Kai's duet partner on the lead single, “Let Me Know”. 

“The album is called Not Only Sunshine, and it will have different themes,” Danzberg explains. “Some are love songs, some are just happy or aggressive. I chose the title because it means that not everything turns good in your life... sometimes you need to go through stuff. But it also contains a lot of sunshine melodies and good-vibe songs!” 

Not Only Sunshine will see release in early 2019 on Big Stir Records. “Let Me Know” is available now as part of the label's Digital Singles series. Pop Up Radio is also available for free at the BSR website. 

www.bigstirrecords.com/kai-danzberg 

www.bigstirrecords.com 

www.facebook.com/bigstirrecords 

www.kaidanzberg.bandcamp.com

Southern California Popsters: Yes, there's a LOT going on with us, but our November show in Burbank is just three weeks after the October show, and we want to let you know about it -- here's why we're already so hyped about it! 

November Gurls! The Big Stir debut for the acclaimed ANNY CELSI & NELSON BRAGG and EZ TIGER! The all-new collaboration THE KARIANNES featuring KAREN BASSET, MARYANN WINDOW, SANDY NEADES and SHERRI WEINSTEIN! Our beloved and extremely rocking regulars LESLIE PEREIRA AND THE LAZY HEROES with some fantastic new tunes! And as always DJ JOHN BORACK shaking some action. And some surprise guests! Be there, and THANK YOU, FRIENDS! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/176186243322930/

UK Popsters -- BIG STIR BRITANNIA is BACK! Join your hosts, Canterbury's SPYGENIUS, and Glasgow Scotland's THE FAST CAMELA -- both freshly returned from US tours -- for a glorious evening at THE OVAL TAVERN in Croydon South London, Friday 16 November at 8PM sharp. It's FREE as always and it's going to be brilliant (also as always) -- THANK YOU, FRIENDS! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/219658241938174/

Introducing: BIG STIR RECORDS DIGITAL SINGLES! 

What are they? Every Friday we'll release a new single (A-Side and B-Side) from one of our friends in the global pop world. The first run includes KARLA KANE (The Corner Laughers), MICHAEL SIMMONS ("The First Days of Summer"), and KAI DANZBERG ("Pop Up Radio") with LISA MYCHOLS! Future releases will feature THE EX TEENS, TRIP WIRE, MYLITTLEBROTHER, CHARMS AGAINST THE EVIL EYE and BSR artists like SPYGENIUS, PLASTICSOUL, BLAKE JONES & THE TRIKE SHOP and THE ARMOIRES. 

Why? Well, we got to thinking. The best thing about music on the internet is that it's IMMEDIATE. That means anyone who comes up with a timely tune can record it and get it out there right away. The worst thing is that it's EPHEMERAL and we've seen brilliant one-off tunes not getting the attention they deserve because of the blink-and-you-miss-it pace of social media. 

Reflecting the core beliefs of Big Stir and everything we do, we believe these artists and these tunes deserve more listeners, so BIG STIR DIGITAL SINGLES is our attempt to showcase them for more listeners. Physical CD compilations of the series will be issued as we go to give them a permanent home. More details to come soon, but be ready for some great music every week... and THANK YOU, FRIENDS!

October 27 brings an extra-autumnal and wonderful installment of BIG STIR at Joe's in Burbank -- and it's part of and all-day all-free banner day for indie music in LA that you should experience in full! We have: 

-The always-enchanting CORNER LAUGHERS from the Bay Area! 
-Indie-folk-pop chanteuse REBECCA SCHIFFMAN! 
-Power pop all-stars SITCOM NEIGHBOR! 
-Your mysterious hosts THE ARMOIRES! 
-DJ extraordinaire and Shake Some Action author JOHN BORACK! 

And, when Big Stir wraps up at 7, head west to The Cinema Bar in Culver City for a KARMA FROG showcase at 9, featuring MOD HIPPIE, a rare PACIFIC SOUL LTD. performance, SUMMER CHILDREN and more surprises. This is no either/or gig day... all LA music lovers should be at both! We will! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/271020846953852/

Not every gig for THE ARMOIRES is a Big Stir Extravaganza, and when the chance comes along to play along one of our all time favorite bands, THE LIVING DOLLS, and the amazing PAT TODD & THE RANKOUTSIDERS at The Park Bar in our hometown of Burbank... we're in! And we hope you will be too! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/267644443867345/

We are immensely proud to welcome ADDISON LOVE to the Big Stir Records family with the release of his debut solo album: Thoughts On Lunch?

Huntington Beach, CA native Love is a founding member of The Yorktown Lads alongside Orange County's pop maestro and his former teacher Michael Simmons (Sparkle*Jets UK) and frequent member of OC pop collective Popdudes. His first album under his own name is a collection of twelve modern pop rock gems, retro in feel but up-to-the-minute in presentation, performed and produced almost exclusively by Addison himself. 

“My first teachers were John, Paul, George and Ringo”, says Love, and the track “Like The Beatles” (featuring guest vocals from Simmons) shows he's learned his craft very well. What sets Addison apart from the many other power poppers who might make the same claim is his age: despite his already impressive resume, Love turned 22 just prior to the release of Thoughts. 

The absolutely infectious lead single “Wee & Nancy Lee” also displays that deep affinity with the Fab Four, and the Southern California coastal roots of The Beach Boys permeate the record as well. They're evident in the Pet Sounds-inspired arrangements and harmonies of the lovely “The Other Angels”, dedicated to Addison's wife Madison (“rhyming names for your convenience” according to the artist) and the delicate “She”. That the melodies and sentiments of the songs stand up to their inspirations is one of the album's many charms. 

The record's sound isn't just rooted in the '60s, though: rockers like “Anything's Right” and the tightly wound “Blinds” evoke the whole history of hook-propelled pop rock from the heyday of The Cars to best of Fountains of Wayne. The acidic Ray Davies-worthy character sketch “The Ballad of Dr. Minard” is framed as a modern day sea shanty. And the album is peppered with intimate piano and acoustic guitar based ballads, from the opening “Just One Minute” to the deeply touching closing track “Marquita”. 

Thoughts On Lunch? is more than just a promising debut – it's the sound of a young artist already well in command of his craft, spinning everyday concerns into a collection of tunes that are at once funny, moving, and instantly memorable. Big Stir Records is delighted to share it with you!

Order Addison Love: Thoughts On Lunch? here!

Southern California Pop People: Big Stir is back at Joe's Great American in Burbank with a BIG global lineup in September! 

-THE FAST CAMELS, Scotland's premiere freakbeat/psych-pop band, on tour in California for the first time ever! 

-ADDISON LOVE, the newest star on the Big Stir Records roster, celebrating the release of his amazing new record "Thougts on Lunch?" 

-PLASTICSOUL, BSR's own masters of sheer rock majesty, in a rare LA appearance! 

-MICHAEL SIMMONS, the OC's master of all things pop, closing out the season with tunes from his celebrated "First Days of Summer" LP! 

-DJ JOHN BORACK, author of the definitive power pop guidebook "Shake Some Action", spinning the classics between sets! 

FREE as always -- bring some cash for the merch table and the Big Stir Bucket of Love to show these brilliant artists that their music matters! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/231436210878676/

It's the first ever Big Stir Downtown, as the Fast Camels (Glasgow, Scotland's premiere pop-psych rockers) join The Armoires and Leslie Pereira & the Lazy Heroes, for this Shake Some Action! co-production featuring all-vinyl DJ sets from the many they can only call Power Pop Jeff. FREE as always, but bring some cash for the Big Stir Bucket to keep the Camels roadworthy as their California tour continues!

https://www.facebook.com/events/219579898723068/

International Pop Overthrow San Francisco is always a family reunion for the artists of BSR and our friends in the global pop universe!

Friday, Night 2 of IPO in San Francisco features many of the leading lights of the Big Stir family, and you should be there! The first PLASTICSOUL performance since main man Steven Wilson's move to Northern California, and our great pal from LA, JASON BERK, plus some of the Bay's very finest -- TRIP WIRE, THE WELL WISHERS, and much much more!

Saturday, the final night of IPO SF, is just plain Bigstirrific! Our very own BLAKE JONES & THE TRIKE SHOP and THE ARMOIRES on tour from Fresno and Burbank respectively, plus fantastic Bay Area mainstays like THE BOBBLEHEADS, SEAN O-BRIEN & HIS DIRTY HANDS, THE CLARENCES (whom we love and support!) and much much more! We shall see you there, and THANK YOU, FRIENDS!

https://www.facebook.com/events/299436990632180/

https://www.facebook.com/events/291165604771800/