Pitchfork

The Asthmatic Kitty roster just got bigger, by a lot. There are seven new artists in the label's fold, to be exact, and thus, I have decided to cast each one as a titular character from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for my own and your amusement. I am Grumpy, for having to sort through all this info, so that leaves Snow White and six dwarfs.

Snow White is Laura Park, because Park is an illustrator and therefore a little different from the rest of her new labelmates. She is currently working on drawing her second minicomic and compiling an anthology of her comic work. She also contributed a 10-page story to Adhouse Books' Superior Showcase #3, which comes out in June.

Bashful is string quartet Osso, because the group keeps lending members to the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Antony, and the National. Stand up for yourselves, Osso! Assert your sovereign grouphood! Right now, the outfit is working on a string adaptation of Sufjan Stevens' Enjoy Your Rabbit.

Doc is married folkies Welcome Wagon, because they have checked up regularly as contributors to both of AK's Mews compilations. Welcome Wagon are finishing a new record for release later this year.

Dopey is L.A. guitar & drums duo I Heart Lung, for their goofy name. They plan to release a new album in early fall, and they have a split 12" coming out in September on Thor's Rubber Hammer Productions. They are also working on a collaboration with visual artist Jonathan Dueck.

Happy is West African songwriter Ermasse Zopoula, because the dude is recording songs for his debut album, and wouldn't you be happy in that situation? Okay, I went the easy route on this one.

Sleepy is singer/songwriter DM Stith, because of the subdued nature of his music. Yes, I went the easy route here, too. Stith is another signee recording a new album.

Sneezy is Seattle-ite Shannon Stephens, because Will Oldham covers her "I'll Be Glad" on the new Bonnie "Prince" Billy album, and have you seen that guy's moustache? Sneezetown, U.S.A. She also played in college band Marzuki with a young Sufjan Stevens, and like everyone else on this list, Stephens is preparing a new album as well.

To celebrate its newfound fecundity, Asthmatic Kitty has assembled a free sampler of all these new signees' work. Titled Works in Progress and available for download at the link below, the compilation features an illustration from Park and musical contributions in various stages of completion from everyone else.

A few of these folks have tour dates as well, and you can view all of those after the jump.

DM Stith:

05-27 Barcelona, Spain - La [2] de Apolo (Primavera Sound pre-show)

* with My Brightest Diamond, Abrevadero

I Heart Lung:

05-03 Los Angeles, CA - The Cocaine *
05-04 Long Beach, CA - OPEN *
05-05 San Francisco, CA - Retox Lounge *#
05-06 Eureka, CA - Pearl Lounge *
05-08 Tacoma, WA - Helm Gallery *
05-09 Portland, OR - Towne Lounge *

* with ellul
# with Dominique Leone

Osso:

06-12 Brooklyn, NY - PS 217 Auditorium (Ditmas Park Concert Series)