2016 has been a busy year for the Defend family, and we want to catch you up!
New Writers
Aaron “Richez” Smith: L.A.-based topliner, cowriter with Eric Bellinger, cuts with Trey Songz, Kevin Gates, Eric Bellinger (co-publishing) Click Here
Daniel Lynas: N.Y.-based writer/producer, longtime producer for A$AP Rocky and cowriter/coproducer of Kanye’s classic “Monster” (administration) Click Here
Mark Sultan: Garage rock icon, of King Khan & BBQ Show (administration) Click Here
Mark De Clive-Lowe: Jetsetting DJ/producer and KCRW mainstay (administration) Click Here
Pile: Beloved Boston-based post-punk band (administration) Click Here
Ryan Spraker: global co-publishing of Eli Paperboy Reed’s sync classics “Explosion,” “Come and Get It,” “Nights Like This” and “Well Alright Now” (co-publishing) Click Here
Sammy Plotkin: L.A.-based topliner, winner of this year’s International Songwriting Competition (co-publishing) Click Here
Todd Simon: Trumpet player and horn arranger, formerly of Antibalas and the Dap-Kings (administration) Click Here
Tommy Eichmann: N.Y.-based writer/producer, collaborator with Mike Del Rio, cowriter of The Knocks single “Dancing With Myself” (co-publishing) Click Here
Ural Thomas & The Pain: Ural Thomas is a 74-year-old soul singer known as Portland's Pillar of Soul. Click Here
Valley Shine: newcomer L.A. pop sweethearts (administration) Click Here
New Catalogs
Daptone Publishing: publishing the legendary soul label’s affiliated acts Click Here
Cultures of Soul: Eccentric soul catalog with new music and international reissuesClick Here
Mother West: Massive alternative rock treasure trove, including The Davenports’ “5 Steps,” theme song to long-running TV show Intervention Click Here
Stones Throw: Publishing catalog of the iconic, pathbreaking L.A.-based underground hip-hop label Click Here
Noteworthy Cuts
Frank Tirado’s composition “Let Me Try,” which we publish as part of the Now-Again Records catalog, was sampled in Beyoncé’s "Freedom," from her latest album Lemonade
Scott Chesak co-wrote Weezer’s "Wind In Our Sail,” on their new album from Crush/WMG
Vincent John co-wrote "Undefeatable" by Interscope’s Young Rising Sons, which has become a sync favorite for sports networks
Staff Additions
We’ve been happy to welcome to the fold A&R consultant Sharon Tapper (Pivot Music Group, formerly of Kobalt, Razor & Tie and Glassnote), sync consultant Mara Schwartz (Superior Music Corp., formerly of Bug Music, BMG and 10th Street), and our full-time in-house music coordinator Andrew Scarborough (formerly of Lip Sync and Music Alternatives).
Defend Sync Songwriting Camp
We took over Elliott Smith’s old studio New Monkey for three days to kick out 12 new, one-stop songs for TV and ads with 25 of our writers.
Volcom Presents: True To This: Miguel Tudela - The Mystery Lights "Follow Me Home" : https://youtu.be/amXcC4RzCFg
Munchies (Vice) Bong Appetit - Valley Shine "Sugar Dream"
Sharon Lafaye Jones (1956 - 2016)
We are deeply saddened by the loss of our client & dear friend Sharon Jones to pancreatic cancer this month. Defend Music was started for and with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings in 2004. She was an inspiration to us all and through her music her spirit will live on. Please donate to the Lustgarten Foundation to contribute to their important pancreatic cancer research.
