The Little Ones bounce back after losing record deal

Talk about a roller-coaster month.

The Little Ones gained a little one in January -- and the Los Angeles quintet lost their record deals in the EMI corporate reorganization. "It was the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows," says singer-guitarist Ed Reyes, who with wife Jenny became parents of a son, Nolan, on Jan. 31. Only a week earlier, the band was told it was being let go from its contracts with EMI imprints Heavenly (in the U.K.) and Astralwerks (in the U.S.).

They're regrouping. Later today, the band will announce a nationwide tour beginning in April with Syracuse, N.Y., sextet Ra Ra Riot -- a jaunt that will coincide with the debut of a new, self-released EP titled "Terry Tales & Fallen Gates."

"It's full circle for us -- we're back to where we were in April 2006 with 'Sing Song,'" Reyes says, referring to the debut EP that helped put the band's upbeat pop on the map.

"Whenever you're rejected by anything in life, it hurts. I'd be lying if I said we weren't disappointed. But it's a new day -- like anything, you have to roll with the punches," Reyes says. "The funny thing is, it never even felt to us like we were signed to a major [label], since both Heavenly and Astralwerks feel like indies."

As part of the separation, the Little Ones were given back the masters for their completed album, "Morning Tide," which originally was due to be released in April. The six songs on the new EP were recorded during the "Morning Tide" sessions but were not slated to be on the album. The band hopes to release it straight to iTunes, with physical copies available at shows.

||| Live: The Little Ones play a headlining date at the Troubadour on May 15, and are at the Glass House the next night with Ra Ra Riot.

||| Download: The intended first single from "Morning Tide," "Ordinary Song," as well as a remix of that song, at the band's MySpace site.

Comments

[Raul]

I've been wondering what was up with the album. By now buzz should have been building and then they mysteriously were off the Nada Surf tour. Now I know. I think they're better off and shouldn't suffer. Record companies are so 1995.

[Jesse Epstein]

I see these guys play with another buzz band cavil at rest at the detroit bar a couple of months ago. They were both amazing, and i think they will be better off not attached to a major at this point.