Insound 20 project unveils merch for Death Cab, Spoon, more

photo by Peter Ellenby

With this being an election year and all, we are surrounded by obvious intersections between music and politics, but let’s not forget about other musical mishmashes, like the one between, say, bands and pretty, pretty artwork.

Insound, online purveyor of all things indie rock, and designer Jason Munn of The Small Stakes studio, purveyor of all things design, have joined forces to bring the art/music connection back to the forefront with Insound 20.

Munn created limited edition designs for 20 bands that will be printed on American Apparel tees and sweatshirts, as well as silk-screened posters at Insound.com.

What makes the Insound 20 really special, besides the fact that only 1,000 tees and sweatshirts and 200 silk-screened posters will be available for each design, is the group of bands involved. Each year, Insound will select new bands to become part of the Insound 20, but here’s the first illustrious set:

1. Beirut
2. Black Heart Procession
3. Built to Spill
4. Calexico
5. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
6. Death Cab for Cutie
7. Department of Eagles
8. Grizzly Bear
9. José González
10. Magnolia Electric Co.
11. New Pornographers
12. Okkervil River
13. Peter Bjorn & John
14. She & Him
15. Spoon
16. The Constantines
17. The Decemberists
18. The Hold Steady
19. The ational
20. The Thermals

The 21st design, called Insound 20 (+1), features the names of all the Insound 20 bands in one design. Proceeds from the sales of that design will go to support 826NYC, “a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write,” according to Insound's site.

Orders for tees ($20), sweatshirts ($35), and posters ($40) were being accepted as of July 16, and merchandise will be shipped in the middle of August.

Related links:
Insound.com: Insound 20
TheSmallStakes.com
826NYC.org

Got a news tip for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.