Astralwerks Artists Hot Chip, Darkel, and Small Sins to Be Featured on Microsoft's New Zune Media Player

Market Wire, September, 2006

Astralwerks is proud to announce that they will have music from three artists pre-loaded onto Microsoft's new Zune media player.

London-based recording artists Hot Chip will have the video for their track "Over And Over" pre-loaded on the player; Darkel (solo project from JB Dunckel of French duo Air) will have the audio for his track "At The End Of The Sky" pre-loaded; and Toronto-based recording artists Small Sins will have the audio from their track "Stay" pre-loaded onto the device as well.

Errol Kolosine, GM of Astralwerks, said, "Astralwerks has always strived to be on the leading edge of new technology and so our acts are a perfect fit for Zune and its pre-load campaign. We are committed to delivering music to the consumer when and how they want it."

"Zune is all about discovering new music," said Christina Calio, director of music marketing for Zune. "Astralwerks is at the cutting edge of music and we are excited to work with them to bring great, new music to consumers by pre-loading tracks from their artists on every Zune device."

Hot Chip are London's finest self-styled electro-pop team. The quintet's infectious track "Over And Over" is taken from their critically acclaimed, Mercury Music Prize nominated album "The Warning" -- an amalgamation of great songwriting and forward-thinking pop-production. It's an honest and soulful record -- emotionally and sonically, made by people exploring sound in the warmth of home, not studio. The band recently completed a sold out mini tour of the US and are due back for their first major US tour this Fall.

Darkel is the solo project from JB Dunckel, half of the acclaimed French band Air. The wistful track "At The End Of The Sky" is taken from the self-titled album "Darkel" released on September 19. Recorded and mixed entirely at his own studio, the songs that make up his first solo album shine through with the sparklingly rich musicality that JB has demonstrated consistently throughout his 10-year career. Darkel's songs are at once sentimental, humorous and philosophical ruminations on love, family and the environment, sung with the same sweetly disarming grace that characterized Air's hit single "Sexy Boy."

Small Sins is the moniker of Thomas D'Arcy, a young veteran of the Canadian music scene and the solo mastermind behind the self-produced debut album "Small Sins," from which the track "Stay" was taken. A masterpiece of heartfelt electro chamber-pop, "Small Sins" bubbles with gorgeously layered harmonies, synth gurgles, and hook-filled tales of love lost. Now a five person unit, Small Sins live show has evolved into a different beast from D'Arcy's more nuanced solo recordings: onstage, the band wears all white costumes and memorably amps up the material with more volume and thrust. Small Sins will be touring with Scissor Sisters starting tonight in L.A.

Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. The Zune device features wireless technology that lets consumers share full-length sample tracks of songs, playlists or pictures with friends, a bright, three-inch LCD video screen, and a built-in FM tuner.

For more information about these artists please contact: Alison Tarnofsky 212.886.7573 Email Contact For more information about Microsoft's Zune please contact: Katy Gentes 425-706-3043 Email Contact