Bandzoogle Member Spotlight: Elyse and the Aftermath

Bandzoogle Member Spotlight: Elyse and the Aftermath

Bandzoogle Member since: 2010

Website: www.elyseandtheaftermath.com

Genre: Rock / Alternative / Indie Pop

From: Los Angeles, CA

Bandzoogle member Elyse Haren is a one-woman army and the music behind the Aftermath. Elyse decided to make music, in an instant, at a Fleetwood Mac concert; she’s played a number of parts in and after college including waitress, insurance assistant, music teacher and nanny for Saudi Royalty. She’s toured over 2000 miles, including performances at SXSW three years in a row, is endorsed by several companies and has licensed several of her songs. Currently Elyse is raising money for her new EP through PledgeMusic, with 5% of any money raised after the target is reached going to the Keep a Breast Foundation: www.keep-a-breast.org    

1. How do you drive traffic to your website?

I try to update a lot and that seems to drive people there and link to my website from Twitter and Facebook.

2. What is your favorite Bandzoogle feature?

I love how easy it is to edit and update your pages so quickly… and instantly see how something looks. It saves lots of time, so I can spend more time connect to the people who come through my website and social networks.

3. What do you think is the most effective promotional tool for your career?

Authenticity… there is no substitute for authenticity.

4. What area of your music career generates the most income for you? Music sales? Live shows? Licensing? Other?

I would say licensing is the most lucrative for us.

5. What’s one of your favorite career highlights so far?

Playing with Pop icons Berlin on New Year’s Eve… getting to ring in the new year on stage is the best way to start the year off right.

6. You’ve played SXSW three times, how did you find those experiences?

SXSW is complete inspiration. Austin is like the oxygen you breathe to get ready to take on the music industry. Every year, I come back with a new sense of hope for the future of music. Meeting the other great bands from across the country and the world and hanging out with the people of Austin is the best perk. They know how to make you never want to leave.

7. You have endorsements from Sennheiser Microphones, Get’m Get’m Guitar Straps, D’Addario Strings, Planet Waves Cables, MAC Cosmetics, and Daisy Rock Guitars. How did you go about getting those endorsements?

It started with Sennheiser. I just love, love their mics and we played a SXSW party sponsored by them and we got an endorsement. Also I met the owners of Daisy Rock guitars in the car rental line at the Austin airport.

8. Why did you decide to fan-fund your next EP?

I decided to use Pledge Music to fund the new EP because I knew couldn’t raise the funds alone after giving everything I had to make the first album.

9. You’ve created quite the epic trailer video for your fan-funding campaign, how did that come together?

Haha thanks! The spy idea came to me as a joke. I was looking at a few different trailers in iMovie and the spy theme made me laugh. I mean I am on a mission :) So, I dressed up as “Agent Aftermath” and started shooting myself. It all came together in one night on my laptop.

10. Why did you choose the PledgeMusic platform for your fan-funding campaign?

Pledge Music is such a great organization. The owners are so involved and motivated in seeing each project succeed and when you throw in raising money for charity… I was hooked.

11.How did you decide on the Keep a Breast Foundation as the charity you’ll donate a % of money raised after your fan-funding target is reached?

I chose the Keep a Breast Foundation because of their dedication to all forms of cancer education and prevention. Then when I heard about their new Non Toxic Revolution- a movement dedicated to eradicating all cancer causing synthetic chemicals from our foods and household products.

12. Final question: you were once a nanny for Saudi Royalty, please tell us that story!

What a crazy temporary summer job it was working for a Saudi Royal Family at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel (hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed). I was hired to be a companion for two of their girls ages 10 and 12. It was an intense experience. I had to learn so many customs quickly! I couldn’t ride in the elevator at the same time as the father, I had to walk behind everyone in the family and we spent most of the time at restaurants, shopping on Rodeo drive and sight-seeing. My favorite memory was showing the two daughters the movie, E.T.

To find out more about Elyse’s EP fund raising campaign on PledgeMusic, visit the project page: www.pledgemusic.com/projects/elyse

PledgeMusic is a great tool for artists and bands looking to raise money for a new release, a tour or making a video. According to their statistics, 77% of campaigns hit their targets and over 90% of those exceed them by 25% or more. And although you do not have to include a charity in your campaign, 89% of campaigns do include a charity element, which they find helps the overall success of the campaign. PledgeMusic can suggest a charity for you, or you can work with any registered charity of your choice.

And maybe our favorite part about PledgeMusic? Founder and CEO Benji Rogers is a proud Bandzoogle member! You can check out his website here: http://marwoodmusic.com