IndieHQ / Article Detail

June 27th, 2006

Interview with Mike Park on 10 Years of Asian Man Records

If you were to ask me to name one person who inspired me to start a label and dedicate my life to independent music, without hesitation, I would say Mike Park. Mike Park and his band at the time, Skankin Pickle, would always travel through Colorado and I still remember the first time I saw them. It was 1993 at the Mercury Café and my world was turned upside down. I was always passionate about music, but it wasn’t til I saw Skankin Pickle that I realized that independent music offered so much more than a soundtrack. After the show, I was able to introduce myself to Mike and he was so incredibly nice. Since that first performance, I made sure to see them play nearly every time they came to Colorado. I purchased their albums which they self-released on Dill Records. I purchased records by unknown bands(at the time) they also released like Less than Jake, Slapstick, and Tantra Monsters. When I started Suburban Home, I built a rapport with Mike and his newly formed Asian Man Records. He put out releases like Link 80, the Misfits of Ska, and another one of his projects, the Bruce Lee Band.

Mike is an amazing individual. I have considered him a close friend for years and even asked him to perform our wedding last summer. I could not imagine a world without Mike Park and Asian Man Records and lucky for all of us, we do not have to imagine such an existence. Asian Man is celebrating 10 years as a label and I was lucky enough to get mike to answer a few questions I had for him regarding Asian Man and the music industry. Please read the interview and please consider supporting everything Mike does. At a time when indies act as though they are majors, it is refreshing to see someone so passionate about being a small, independent label.

And on a side note, if any of you speak to Mike, tell him he needs to record his under the influence record for Suburban Home!

IndieHQ – Congratulations on 10 years running Asian Man Records. 10 years is a bit deceiving as you started putting out records through Dill years before. Can you tell me how you got involved with independent music, playing in a band, and starting a label?
Mike Park - Like many others, I played in a band and then out of necessity self-released our records. Picked a name and therefore by default had a label. I guess the start date goes back to high school. We would record our practices on a boom box and sold cassette recordings at shows. We didn’t even have any duplication. We would have to play the songs over and over again to have a finished product. Geez, this was like 1984. The band was called Psychiatric Disorder. HA HA. We sold the tapes for a dollar. It was pure and honest back then. The early years are always the best.

IndieHQ – Running an independent record label for over 10 years is quite an accomplishment; can you tell me the secret of your success?
Mike Park - Hmmmm… basically I just try to be honest with what I do. There’s so many labels trying to reach that next level. I’m content on being the little label. Business is unpredictable. I set goals of course, but they are quite modest in terms of what I can and cannot do. We have such a small overhead here. Rent is free, only one employee, and a strong relationship with all the artists.

IndieHQ – You have helped put out records for a number of bands that have gone off to become very successful (Alkaline Trio, Lawrence Arms, and slew of others). What is your most successful selling album? How many have you sold?
Mike Park - That would have to be the Alkaline Trio. Between the three albums, we’ve sold over 400,000 records.

IndieHQ – Starting out as a ska label, I found it interesting that you have recently been re-issuing some of the most influential pop-punk records. How did you get involved with re-releasing the Screeching Weasel and Queers back-catalog? And how have those releases been doing?
Mike Park - I’ve been asking myself the same question. I had never even met Ben Weasel or any of the members of Screeching Weasel. One day out of the blue, Ben called me and asked if I would re-release his records. He said he had heard I was an honest guy from other bands I had worked with and that was it. No contracts, just an OK and the records came out. I guess they were pleased because next thing you know, Joe Queer is calling me asking to re-release his records on the advice of the Screeching Weasel family. Very strange how it worked out, but I’m very honored to have these classic punk records in my catalog.

IndieHQ – Have you ever released a band from a demo submission? Which band(s)? What do you look for in a band on Asian Man?
Mike Park - ALKALINE TRIO. They sent me a demo, which up to a month ago I thought i still had…DOH!!! But yeah, I got a demo and kind letter from Matt Skiba and we just decided to put out a 7 inch and from there we ended up doing all the records and singles, etc.. But most of the released have come from word of mouth. Other bands telling me to check out this band or that band. I have no idea what I look for in a band. To be honest, I just want bands that believe in the philosophy of punk and who aren’t starry eyed hoping to be the next green day.

IndieHQ – Your label, since its beginning, received exclusive distribution from Mordam. Mordam was recently acquired by Lumberjack. How have things changed? A number of labels have left Lumberjack since this happened. Have you received offers from other distributors? Will you continue to work with Lumberjack?
Mike Park - It seems like I get hit up on a daily basis from other distributors. People don’t seem to understand that we’re going through a big change in the music business. Sales aren’t the same as they were 5 years ago. Independent music has changed quite a bit. There is little difference in so called indie and major labels. So the core of punk kids who would scour the music stores for rare punk are now scouring ebay for these records. Record stores are falling on hard times as big chains like BEST BUY and TARGET have taken over. I’m going off on a tangent….sorry. Ummm.. yes, I will continue with Lumberjack. They have been nothing but helpful with me and my label.

IndieHQ – How have things changed in the way that you promote your records since you started?
Mike Park - It’s kind of embarassing to say, but I’ve actually done very little change since day one. In the beginning before the internet played such a big hand on life, I spent a lot of time writing letters. Pen palling with people from all over. Lots of zines and such, but those seem to be less frequent as web zines are popping up everywhere. I just stopped a lot of corresponding. I really just put out records and cross my fingers. The hope that people will believe in what I am doing and therefore give a new record a chance. Nothing beats the power of word of mouth.

IndieHQ – You have remained very active with the Plea for Peace organization. What is the mission of Plea for Peace and when did it begin? Plea for Peace recently did a cross-California bike trip, how many people were involved and what did this tour benefit?
Mike Park - I started Plea For Peace in 1999. It was a direct response to the apathy which is still present in todays music business. Specifically at the time, bands like LIMP BIZKIT were big and the testosterone mentality of cock rock as I like to call it would dominate the airwaves. The rapes at woodstock and the riots at this once upon of time peaceful endeavor turned to capitalistic gain and the root evil showing it’s true colors. PLEA FOR PEACE was a chance to promote the simple idea of peace through music. We are currently working on opening a youth center here in my hometown of San Jose, California to promote healthy activities for young people. We’re constantly doing fundraisers and one of my bright ideas was to do a bike ride from Seattle to San Diego. We had about 20 riders and my hope to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the center turned into a little more than ten thousand. To be honest, it was a lot of work and I had never been challenged so physically and mentally before in my life. Thankfully I made it, but it was definitely a difficult event.

IndieHQ – Meeting and knowing you has been a big inspiration for my label, who are some of the people who inspire you? Are there labels out there you look up to?
Mike Park - I love Dischord Records. The philosphy is so pure and honest. Though many say they are jaded and elitists, I tend to look past anything but the ideas and philosophy which the label started with and continues to hold true regardless of financial gain.

IndieHQ – On your website’s Frequently Asked Questions, you offer advice on starting a label, what are some of the things you recommend an aspiring label do?
Mike Park - Number one rule:Have fun. If you are doing it only to make money, then get out of it. There is already …..Damn, I was going to start dissing labels, but I’ll spare my breath.

IndieHQ – What lies in the future of Asian Man?
Mike Park - Continue putting out records until it’s not fun anymore.

Written by Virgil Dickerson