A lot of bands have turned to digital distribution reluctantly. They gave up LPs when they were pried from their cold dead hands, only to find themselves now clinging to the LP’s replacement: the CD.

Persephone’s Bees is not one of those bands. After releasing their debut CD—Notes from the Underworld—through Columbia Records, they’ve turned to the Internet for release of their follow-up in a rather unique way; the songs from New in Berlin are being released track by track. The first song, “Ugly Thing,” hit iTunes in October 2010. The ninth, “We’ve Just Begun,” was released in February.

Angelina Moysov and Tom Ayres of Persephone's Bees. Photo by Piper Ferguson.

In between releases, performances, and video shoots, Angelina Moysov took the time to answer our questions about their approach to music distribution and how they intend to promote the full album when it’s released.

Appletell: Has iTunes (and digital delivery in general) been successful for you financially or more as a way of getting your music to a larger audience?

Angelina: Our success with itunes is on the distribution side—it’s easier for people to hear and buy music through iTunes, even though I wish people would listen to it as a record and had a CD or a vinyl of our music in their hands instead of MP3s.

Appletell: Your first album, Notes from the Underworld, was released on CD through Columbia Records.

“City of Love” from the album Notes From the Underworld

For your second album, you’re releasing the tracks individually as digital downloads. How has this staggered approach affected the creative process?

Angelina: Actually, we finished the new record and then decided to release the songs individually. It seems to fit the times better; the listening public’s style appears to lean towards absorbing singles rather than LPs. The attention span has changed with technology. I think giving the public more time with each song is beneficial to both parties. And, with a band operating as its own label, it’s easier to promote.

Appletell: Do you have a track sequence in mind for the final release, or are you taking a more organic approach to the whole album?

Angelina: The order was established months ago (not the same as the order of the single releases—there’s an interesting flow to the order we’ve chosen for the LP).

Appletell: When the album is released in its entirety, do you plan to make a CD or LP available for purchase, or stick with digital distribution?

Angelina: Yes, we’re going to have a vinyl of the entire record with bonus songs available as downloads.

“Ugly Thing” from the forthcoming album New in Berlin

Appletell: Free bonus songs are a great idea for those who’ve already downloaded the digital album tracks. Blu-ray discs often come with free digital downloads of the movies; buyers get the physical product, but they also get the convenience of a digital version. Obviously, that wouldn’t be necessary with CDs, but do you think artists would be wise to give away digital downloads to those who paid for the material on vinyl?

Angelina: Yes, of course it makes sense to give away songs digitally when fans buy the vinyl.

Appletell: Do you think the convenience of music distribution and downloads through digital stores such as iTunes has hurt or helped musicians?

Angelina: The Music Business is a living, organic thing that changes all the time; parts of it live, parts of it die, it adapts because it has to absorb new technologies. Personally, I don’t think iTunes has helped or hurt musicians, we’re still in the same boat, trying to stay afloat. It’s easier for us to distribute our own music, but now the amount of music available to everyone is massive. I think iTunes actually hurt the listener!

For more information on Persephone’s Bees and to sample more music, visit www.persephonesbees.com or find them in iTunes. You can also follow them in Ping. New In Berlin is tentatively scheduled for release at the end of July.