Creativity and technology collide in the latest web project out of interactive studio GRAND, as rock act Hail the Villain go online to promote their forthcoming release, Population: Declining.

Set in the repressive Metal City, HailTheVillain.com is the first chapter in a story where everything is not as it seems. As the city’s residents go about their daily lives, Villains, imposters from the Dead Dimension, are roaming their streets undetected, feeding on the innocent as they plan for world domination.

The website opens with family man and steel factory worker Drake Carter ending his affair with seductive co-worker Thea Landa, sparking a chain of events that leads to Drake’s murder at the hands of his former lover and secret Villain as she moves to claim his soul for herself.

Freezing time in that brutal and savage moment, the website allows users to navigate through the scene to unlock character back-stories, clues, downloads and to participate in the story by becoming Villains and sharing messages with the band.

The concept for the website grew out of a series of sketches the band had created as a rough draft for a comic book inspired by the sounds of their new album, Population: Declining. Developing the site’s narrative in conjunction with partnering company Rune, GRAND set out to design a website with a difference, building a range of engaging features to plug into and enhance a story crafted to showcase the band’s music.

Interactive Agency: Grand, USA
Creative Director: Luke Canning
Technical Director: Matthew Quinn
Flash Developers: Stuart Evans, Tony Pilger
Software Developer: Joel Kronenberg
Interactive Designer: Luke Canning
Graffiti: Flying Fortress, 6:10
Original Story & Character Development By: RUNE Entertainment & Hail the Villain
Production Studio: RUNE Entertainment
Director: Paul Wollenzien
Producer: Nancy Nor
Story: Peter Nalli, Paul Wollenzien
Copywriters: Peter Nalli, Graham Perkins
3D Artists: Ricardo Gomez, Javier Castellanos, Tim Dormady, Martin Krol, David Young, Matt Pierce, Aaron Barr and Clayton Manson-Hing
2D Artists: Matthew Lau, Peter Nalli, Kay Huang, Trevor Spencer
Animation: Rob Gennings, Javier Castellanos
Sound Design: Mike Headford

Get the new Gorillaz album Plastic Beach!

The Gorillaz

This song is amazing and this LIVE performance by Spoon is out of this world. I don’t care what you say about Texas… “don’t mess with Austin”! LOL, If Texas has one good thing going for it it’s Austin. Wow, they get some of the best live acts and frequently… must be nice!

Los Angeles definitely is on par but there’s definitely something special about Austin and that whole vibe. Number one benefit for starters would be NO TRAFFIC!

Oh by the way thanks to Waterloo Records, go check out their website now!

This song is an appropriate throw back because last night I was in La La Land with about 50 thousand other wild souls bringing in the new year! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, 2010 is going to be amazing!

Artist: Green Velvet
Song: La La Land

Ever since I heard this song yesterday I haven’t been able to stop listening to it, so I thought I’d share. What an awesome dance track and wonderful addition to my music collection.

Artist: Fake Blood

Lyrics:
i think i
i think i
i think i like it like it
igh igh igh igh igh
you’ll igh you”ll igh you’ll
o ni(ght)

told me told me told me you go
told me told me told me in go
heat heat heat heat go
heat heat heat in the

Pretty funny, check out the new R&B sensation that is sweeping ladies off their feet across the globe… The Sexy Pilgrim!

I love the sounds that come from this talented group from Brasil. If you haven’t already heard of CSS… prepare your eardrums for a lovely experience!

It’s been a minute since I’ve last posted a music video, so without any further delay please allow me to introduce Private’s new single (2007, new to me) “My Secret Lover”. I love their sound, I’d like to see Private in concert with Chromeo and Sam Sparro!

Did I mention I love this video… the style is so 80’s. Anytime you have someone playing a keyboard guitar in your video… you’re cool with me!