Anticipation as recording deadline for YouTube band project nears

Jan. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Ostensibly one of the first projects to use YouTube for band member auditions, this landmark band project will begin recording its debut full-length album on 15 February this year.

Band leader Cobus Potgieter says followers and supporters of the project are “incredibly curious to see how it all will come together.”

Potgieter, who received over 450 YouTube auditions, finally chose BJ Bryant (guitar) from Nashville, Tennessee, Evan Collins (bass guitar) from Anderson, South Carolina, Bear Rose (guitar) from Troy, North Carolina as well as Justin Hicks (vocals) from Georgia to join the band.  Cobus, who is YouTube’s most watched drummer, will play drums.

Followers, supporters excited

“There is a very cool buzz around the project. It has been a very long time coming and it seems like the followers and supporters of this project are just as excited as I am to finally see it come to life,” explains Potgieter who successfully called for Kickstarter support in July 2012.  Over $50,000 in support was received from supporters throughout the world including South Africa, Potgieter’s home country.

Potgieter is very aware that the project has been made a reality by his over 650 funders and is committed to keeping them up-to-date on the project, using weekly YouTube webisodes, live studio cam, social media, the project’s website, www.myyoutubebandproject.com and a weekly email update, written by Potgieter.

Supporters to be updated regularly

“It’s all systems go in terms of communications.  Supporters will know exactly what is happening during the recording process, and everything else up until launch day. We will also update all social media pages and channels regularly. More importantly, everything will be consolidated into my weekly ‘whatupdates’ that will be emailed to those who have signed up for this update through the project website,” explains Potgieter.

Potgieter and the four other YouTube musicians expect to be in studio, with newly signed Canadian producer Steve Klassen, up to 10 hours each day over the next month.

“We will see how much we can get done. Since we have never played together in one room, it will be interesting to see how well we are able to write and record together,” says Potgieter.

Klassen is equally intrigued.

Project breaks convention

"When I was approached by Cobus and his team to produce the MyYoutubeBandProject, I was instantly attracted to the project due to its unique nature.  This project breaks a lot of the conventional rules found in the current music industry model.  Rules that have needed to be broken," says Klassen.

Potgieter says some members like BJ and Justin have already written some amazing songs, which have then being worked on by the other members.

Main priority is to create honest, creative music

“Since the very beginning, I wanted to create a space wherein the band can be as free and creative as possible. Sometimes the corporations that often control bands can stifle creativity and sincerity in favour of commercial success. Obviously, we hope that because our main priority is to create honest and creative music, we are going to make great music and this will translate into the project being financially successful.

“The playing field is wide open for anybody to contribute. This was also a big question mark going in, so it's amazing to see how many great songs and ideas have been written so far,” he adds.

Atmosphere, vibe incredible

“The atmosphere and vibe between the guys is incredible. We are all very like-minded, which obviously adds a ton of excitement to the project. It all comes down to the chemistry between the band members, how well we can work and play together, and how unified we are.

“A major part of the project is the amazing story behind it all which will be consolidated into a five disc box set and will include the album as well as a feature-length documentary," ends Potgieter

The album will be available through iTunes and its release date is yet to be finalised.