Tigers Can Bite You joined the roster in early 2008, releasing an EP and full length album. What attracted me to this LA trio was their mix of indie pop melodies with a darker, electronic sound. When seeking out artists, the goal always seems to be to find music that is accessible but also cannot be linked directly to one particular artist. I have seen a few comparisons in the band's reviews to Death Cab For Cutie and M83 and the band does have elements of each, but also a sound distinctly their own.

Shiloe were signed without any of us meeting face-to-face. I connected with the band sometime last year on MySpace and the relationship went from there. There were a number of reasons I liked Shiloe, and certainly the dark, driving sound was one of them (think a goth-y Sonic Youth). Just as important was seeing that the band had already been successful at building a following and generating a good deal of buzz and airplay. It was emblematic of the professionalism the band exhibits, a professionalism that will take them far.

Kid Mud proved to be the last piece of the puzzle - and his signing seemed like a no-brainer once I heard his songs online. I was attracted to the diverse mix of sounds emanating from his songs - and even more interested when I found out he'd played each instrument himself and recorded it all in his apartment. Obviously, you look for a unique angle as a selling point with each artist. With Kid Mud (whose real name is Sean Duncan), those selling points are clear and plentiful. New and Used Records has just released an EP from him, but for such a prolific songwriter and recorder, you can expect more in the near future.

The Passionistas were a big reason as to why this label got started. The band contacted me after seeing a video I'd produced about their producer, Kelley Stoltz. I was struck by the band's album, God's Boat, but also how interesting they were as individuals. I produced a six-part video series chronicling the band's history, while releasing God's Boat in June 2007. Their sound has been described as that of a "high school garage band with great taste," and they will take that as a compliment. It sounds like vintage punk rock, but the band draws more influence from Mariah Carey and Lil Wayne.