It’s been two days since Zach Sobiech succumbed to the Osteosarcoma that plagued his body for the past four years, but it’s now clear that his inspiring attitude and music are not to suffer the same fate. Thanks to the support of all those who connected with his uplifting tunes and story, his single “Clouds” just hit the #1 spot on iTunes’ Singles chart.
“Clouds” is being released through Rock The Cause, the label that excels at bringing music and philanthropy together. True to form, proceeds from “Clouds” are going to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund.
Help lift the spirit of someone in need of positive energy; support the research to treat an illness that’s the eighth most common form of childhood cancer; and keep a small part of Zach Sobiech’s endless optimism in your pocket by adding “Clouds” to your music library.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a video on Zach’s last days that will give you a glimpse inside this amazing boy’s mindset:
You may not know the name Zach Sobiech, but you absolutely should. This week, we lost Zach to a rare form of bone cancer, but not before he was able to inspire millions with his story and music.
In 2009, at age 14, Zach was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a disease with no viable treatment. Several operations and bouts of chemotherapy followed, but last year, doctors told him that the cancer had spread and that he only had a few months to live. Zach funneled the frustration and fear of that diagnosis into “Clouds,” a goodbye ode that has accumulated millions of YouTube views and a surge of support towards his story via CNN, Billboard, and a host of other media outlets.
I’ve worked with Zach’s record label, Rock the Cause, for the last two years and followed Zach’s story every step along the way — as local press turned to national press and national press turned to a record album charting on the Billboard Heatseekers and Folk Charts. The most astounding part about Zach was that while each piece was about him, it was never actually about him. Zach never let the dire complexity of his situation derail him and continued doing what he loved to raise funds to support others diagnosed with his disease.
Last week, as Zach was nearing the end of his time with us, a host of celebrities contributed to a cover version of “Clouds,” a fitting goodbye to a young man trying to find the best way to express that very sentiment. So, minimize the e-mail you’re writing, the text you just received, or whatever other ancillary task is currently holding your attention, and check out the video below. Zach may be gone, but he will not be forgotten.
Proceeds from “Clouds” go to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund, which you can donate to and read more about here.
Update: “Clouds” is now #1 on iTunes! Thanks for helping him get there.
Fresh from the Rival Sons tour, Toronto’s The Balconies just brought their European run to a close with two packed shows at The Great Escape. The first was on Thursday (16th May) at a Canadian showcase held at Blind Tiger Club which saw the band win over a large crowd in mid-afternoon, with the second a packed sweat box Green Store Door (18th May) where the band made sure everyone was still awake at 2AM!
The Balconies have just released their new Kill Count EP in Europe, joining friends Two Hours Traffic for several dates including a showcase at the Dauw Pop Festival in Holland. Kill Count combines straight-up Rock with Pop harmonies for a highly accessible appeal. Produced by Jon Drew (Tokyo Police Club, Fucked Up), the EP has been met with critical acclaim — something the band will be looking to build on when they release their debut album later this year.
The band recently launched a PledgeMusic campaign to raise money to finish the project — and met their goal in only two weeks! The album has been recorded by well-renowned producer Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, Simple Plan).
Before hitting The Great Escape, The Balconies were kind enough to swing by The Orchard’s new UK offices for what would be The Biscuit Factory Sessions’ debut performance. Here are some images from their set, taken by yours truly.
For avid readers of The Daily Rind, you might remember an article that was posted on songwriter/producer/artist Victor Newman back in July, 2011. Since that time, Victor has diligently been working in the studio as all of the above on a multitude of projects.
One of them is the recently released Down for which The Orchard is providing digital distribution courtesy of our label Lovelane Music Group. The smash single is “Cali’ Livin’” featuring the Doggfather, Snoop Dogg a.k.a. Snoop Lion, which is a tribute to the West Coast that you can bump out your speakers while in your vehicle. The title track, “Down,” is another energetic track that is sure to get couples on the dance floor with its funky beat. Victor continues with up-tempo Club tracks including “Patron,” “Till The Wheels Fall Off” and “Take Me Away.”
Towards the latter part of the release, Victor changes the pace. “She Ain’t Givin It Up” is about a girl that he is into, but she is reluctant to go all the way in their relationship. On “I’m Still Here,” despite being gone for an extended absence, he is always going to be around for his lady no matter what happens and vice versa. One of the standout tracks is “Mama Thank You,” where Victor gives props and love to his mother for being a wonderful parent who rode with Victor through thick and thin. The album’s finale is “Let’s Go,” another blazing track where Victor catches wreck on the microphone strutting his stuff.
Currently, Down can be downloaded on iTunes, eMusic and Amazon, or streamed on Spotify and Rdio.
In addition, Victor has been promoting Down in Dubai, where he also has a residence. You can check him out below doing an in-store at the Virgin Megastore there:
So, if you want to really be “Down” with what it is really going on, look know further than Victor Newman!
As part of The Orchard’s Creative Licensing team, we’re always on the hunt for interesting covers.
This month, we’ve assembled a playlist of some of of our favorite discoveries from the past year, including Albert Hammond, Jr. of The Strokes taking on the Big Star power-pop classic “Thirteen;” The Dandy Warhols‘ rumbling electronic-tinged rendition of The Cure‘s 1981 single “Primary;” AM & Shawn Lee‘s cosmic electro-soul update of Joe Jackson‘s 1982 hit “Steppin’ Out;” and much more.
Stream the entire playlist via Spotify below, and be sure to check it out on ShareMyPlaylists, too.
