hey folks, just a quick note to let you know that my new site is up. have a cruise by. ive got some interesting things planned for the rollout of "The Colossus", and while i'll try to post links elsewhere, that's probably gonna be homebase for the fun/exclusive stuff. there might be some tracks in the audio player you havent heard. over and out!

ps-a special thanks to ant at me&em for the design wizardry!

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Hey folks, im writing with some pretty big news in the world of rjd2…. I’ve had a busy year, and have waited what seems like an eternity to talk about this stuff. I wanted to have a little music to put on the table as well, so you don’t think im just some windbag that’s wasting your time blabbing away left and right. So much has changed in the last 12 months, so lets just get to the point:

            After much legwork/lawyer hours/busting ass, I announce to you that I have started my own record label, RJ’S ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, and the first signing is…….RJD2!!! I am now a free agent, working for myself.  Been a long time coming, and it is truly one of the most exciting moments of my career.  The hardcore completionists out there may know that I have previously done some “smaller” releases on my own, under the label Bustown Pride. That was small peanuts; this time out, I have FULL worldwide distribution through The Orchard(world digital, US physical), and K7 everywhere outside of the US (physical). Furthermore, I also have acquired the first 3 RJD2 releases for my label; my first 3 babies-Dead Ringer, The Horror EP, and Since We Last Spoke.  But that’s not all….

            This past Tuesday(technically today, as I write this at 11:30pm; running a label is no joke!) saw the first ever digital release of 3 cds of b-sides and rarities I had previously released on Bustown Pride: Your Face Or Your Kneecaps, In Rare Form, and Things Go Better Instrumentals. Your Face Or Your Kneecaps also features 2 brand-new, previously unreleased tracks, as a bonus. But wait, there’s more….

            On October 20, there will be the release of a box set commemorating close to 10 years in the game: RJD2 2002-2010. A strictly vinyl affair, it will include full length LP versions of Dead Ringer, The Horror EP(first time on vinyl!), Since We Last Spoke, The Tin Foil Hat EP (a BRAND NEW EP of 7 unreleased songs!), a hand silk screened, signed and numbered poster, a download card for exclusive treats, plus a beautifully printed box. 

            Oh, and lastly, my new album is done. I know I said before it would be out in 2009-you did know I meant FISCAL year, not CALENDAR YEAR, right? You wouldn’t want me to rush this out all willy-nilly, would you? good, I didn’t think so.

            One last thing before I go; just to be forthright, this is only a portion of what I’ve got lined up for you. I have been SERIOUSLY busy in the last 2 years; and very little of it has to do with twittering. At the risk of sounding all corny, I feel the need to say something that’s important to me: I’ve realized recently that I do music, make records, LISTEN to records,  tour, and generally hole myself up in the studio because I love it, not cause its my job. Its become as natural as breathing, and keeps me sane-most of the time.  Im much more concerned with making a timeless record, than with how to sell a record nowadays. Also, if you don’t see me posting left and right on whatever the most current social networking site is, its not cause I don’t like being social, its cause I feel like our time on earth is very very short, and that the most I have to offer this planet in my little window of time here is through the vessel of music.  I would rather leave behind something you can hopefully use a little more than an update on my belly button lint.  Hopefully, a catalog that speaks more volumes than all the blogs I could possibly write in a hundred years.

            Alright, that’s it for the moment. What are you doing here? Mad Men is back!

-rj

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RJD2-“YOUR FACE OR YOUR KNEECAPS”, “IN RARE FORM”,  and “THINGS GO BETTER-INSTRUMENTALS” out now digitally on RJ’S ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, available at itunes, amazon, rhapsody, emusic, 24/7.

RJD2-“2002-2010” box set released OCT 20

RJD2-“THE COLOSSUS” coming early this winter

For press inquiries contact Jessica Linker at Pitch Perfect PR -- jessica@pitchperfectpr.com -- 773-784-4335.....

Myspace.com/rjd2

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/RJD2/32328322799?ref=search&sid=284004294.1819543262..1

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in philly? interested in interning at rj’s electrical connections? Contact rjd2interns@hotmail.com

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so while i dont necessarily DO music for the accolades, it is nice(and surreal?) to get recognized by the "establishment" of the music industry. i won my first award this year for the Mad Men theme.



my first award....on my 10th anniversary of making records! now i just need to find out what happens after season 1 of the damn show.......hey lions gate, think i can get a copy of the dvd's?

i can now tell you with virtual certainty that this will happen. its very near to completion. once all the business is sorted, i should have an idea of exactly when in 2009; i will eat my hat and buy you all dr. pepper's if i do not make this goal. its got some exciting guests from here and from there. will report back with details when i have them.

wow. im still stunned. last night was of course a monumental event for anyone who lives in america, regardless of political leanings. i had decided that i wanted to be on the streeets of philly asap if obama was elected. 5 minutes after the announcement, i was hoofing it through my neighborhood, taking in the responses. it was unreal. people just walked out of their front door and started screaming. it literally felt like you were walking into a different world. my nearest major thoroughfare turned into a block party. little 8 year old kids with their mom, older folks, black, white, etc-just stood on baltimore avenue screaming and banging on pots and pans. a 60 year old man started crying when he told me about how the first election he voted in was nixon's victory in '64, and how essentially, he finally had a president he could be proud of. it was VERY intense. the trolleys rode down the street leaning on the horn the entire block. im getting chills just thinking about it. truly, a brave new world.


congrats, folks. we did it.

today is the last day to register to vote for you. if you have not done so, PLEASE do it at the links below, very easy:


http://www.declareyourself.com/
or
http://www.chooseorlose.com
or
http://...com/3r82zv

the non-voter hawks are gonna be in full swing in Ohio im sure; in 2004 Ohio was a critical swing state, and was decided by less than 120,000 votes.

ahhh.....finally cracked the nut. i got a song done!!!! for the first time in my life as a guy who pays the bills with music, i took a little time off the merry-go-round this summer-(c)john lennon. ive had gigs and stuff, and did a cover of a danny elfman theme(FUN and HARD), but i've let my hair down a little in regards to recording. just wanted to let it happen on its own terms, and have it feel right. summertime i just noodled, practised scales, bought gear, fixed gear, started building a modular synth, pretty much everything BUT recording.
today i just finished the brunt of the writing/tracking of a new song. which led to the start of another song. i dont wanna get too much into stylistic descriptions, that kills the fun of hearing a record, you know? needless to say, wherever this process leads me, im always gonna be moving onward and upward with records-more drama, more drum insanity, more melodic development, etc. so im hoping i'll have good news by the end of 2008 about a new record. that's my personal goal. dont hold me to that though!

also, i'll be back in a while with more food bloggage. the house camera is out on assignment in indiana, but i've got flicks coming of my first foray into german chocolate cake, new-perfected blueberry cobbler, and the fried chicken is getting close to where it needs to be. back shortly....

so i may be doing a series of food blogs here, since im a bit of a fan of cooking and eating. if you are from the "food is just fuel" school of thought, do yourself a favor and tune out now. however, if you are into the whole food thing, lets forge ahead together on the quest for good eats.....

today's topic: salad. i think everybody hates salad as a kid, but the enjoyment of a good salad is a good signifier that you are a grown ass person functioning in society. i've always found a salad i like, and then i proceed to beat the fucking thing into the ground by eating it 5 days in a row, then-BURNOUT. and i'd be off salad for another week or 4. but i had a salad breakthrough this year. i decided to just buy all the stuff i like at the whole foods salad bar in bulk-even the stuff im on the fence on. so i got 5 or 6 kinds of nuts, 3 cheeses, 4-5 kinds of dried fruits, and it worked. having the variety available means no more boredom, plus you get to try all kinds of combos. gruyere and pistachios? blue cheese, raisins and soy nuts? pepitos, dried cranberries and croutons? bring it all on. and i've become a firm believer in making your own salad dressing. a bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, maybe a little pepper, and youre good. fresher is better. and i also like a little spinach in with the lettuce sometimes too.

ok, that's it for now. im working on perfecting my fried chicken, and my apple pie, so if i start nailing 'em, i'll be back for part 2. take care-rj

So maybe a decent handful of the folks out there who are aware of myself are also aware of a group called the MHz. This was my first rap group; we did a few singles on Bobbito's Fondle 'em records, a few compilation songs, etc. from 1997-ish to 2001-ish. This group was the entry point into the world of "professional" music for Camu Tao, Copywrite, and myself, and also provided the introduction of a few others. Anyway, Camu passed away yesterday. While this didnt come out of the blue for anyone who knew him, it still comes with the same amount of shock. He was one of the most truly creative people i've ever known, hilariously funny, and a complete enigma-almost anyone who ever met him remembered him, even if just in passing. He gave a lot of people in Columbus(and beyond) some amazing memories they will certainly have for the rest of their lives. If any of us make it past 50, Camu will be a large part of all those old man reminiscings. And while im still stunned, Im glad he isn't in pain anymore.


Godspeed, Tero.

Hey everyone-

Thanks for coming out to the latest round of shows. Had an incredible time and am eternally grateful for your love and support.


After much, much demand, we've got TWO shows in Philly on May 24th and May 25th.


First is Jam on the River, May 24th, with the Flaming Lips, featuring the FULL RJD2 BAND. Word.


Second is a DJ-only gig on May 25th, at the Fillmore at TLA on South Street.


So all my Philly folks, show some brotherly love. It's a holiday weekend, you have no excuse.


Come out! Also, Europe, you're gonna get it this summer.