May 14th, 2007
I met Ezra Caraeff of Slowdance Records when he was selling merch for the Jealous Sound and the tour was coming through Denver around 8 years ago. I was really excited to see my buddy Dave Brown who ran Holiday Matinee and Better Looking Records and was on much of the tour. Ezra explained that Dave left back for home right before the Denver date. We ended up speaking quite a bit and have on and off again for the past 7 years. The label began in San Diego, but he has been running the label from his house in Portland, Oregon for the past 7 years.
The label is best known for putting out records for the Velvet Teen, but Slowdance has put out records for acts like The Crosstide, 89 Cubs, the Kissing Tigers, The New Trust and more.
I have always dug the music that Slowdance has put out and although they are not a huge label, their releases deserve to be noticed. I am proud to share this with Ezra Caraeff; thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview.
A note on the photo from Ezra, “No good headshots, do here is my leg and favorite book, pictured at the lovely Seoul airport. They have free wi-fi and sleepy couches for all.”
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 3 Comments
May 11th, 2007
TuneCore is a digital aggregator with a twist. Instead of delivering music to a company that perpetually takes a percentage of your sales, for one flat price they’ll host and deliver your media to iTunes and a host of other ala-carte digital services. I recently talked to owner Jeff Price via IM.
Let’s talk about overall direction of new media and the music business. You were a “pioneer” in the biz going from SpinArt as a successful label… to eMusic. Explain the differences in the old model vs. the new model.
The old model is about generating revenue from the “exploitation” of the music. We need to “sell” music to make money, and artists gets a small % of the money (band royalty.) The food chain is artist creates music label, mass produces it onto and delivers some kind of finished product to a distribution company That company has a huge warehouse, a huge staff, insures the inventory,etc. The distribution company also has field staff that walks into stores to get shelf space, fronts money for co-ops. In return - the distributor takes a % of the money, so if you sell for $10 they take 25% and the rest goes to the label. The artist gets $1.35 - $1.75 from each sale
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Written by Bill Wilson | 5 Comments
May 7th, 2007
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It is hard to discuss independent hardcore without bringing up Revelation Records. Revelation has been putting out some of the most influential hardcore for close to 20 years having released records by bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of It All, Youth of Today, Inside Out, Texas is the Reason, In My Eyes, Shai Hulud, and more. These days, they continue to put out hardcore and although, the band names are not as recognizable, all are worth getting to know. Captial(ex Silent Majority), Shook Ones, Down to Nothing, End of a Year, Sinking Ships, Living Hell, and Gracer all have potential for becoming your new favorite band.
I am proud to give you this interview with Bob Shedd, A&R for Revelation Records. Bob explains his thoughts on Revelation and their roster, the future of music sales, and what one record he would have everyone hear. Thanks Bob for taking the time to do this interview.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 4 Comments
April 26th, 2007
Interview with Greg Ross from Go Kart Records
Interview with Darren Walters of Jade Tree Records
Interview with Seth Hyman of Negative Progression Records
Interview with Derek Hogue of G7 Welcoming Committee
Interview with Chris Wrenn of Bridge Nine
Interview with Ross Siegel of Reignition Recordings
Intervew with Ray Harkins of Abacus Recordings
10 Questions with Virgil from Suburban Home Records
Interview with Craig Ericson of Rise Records
Interview with Sonny Kay of G.S.L.
Interview with Dr Strange Records
Interview with Mike Park on 10 Years of Asian Man Records
Interview with Equal Vision’s Dan Sandshaw
Since I am waiting on a number of labels to get their interviews for me, I thought now would be as good as any to reflect on the interviews we have done. I am pretty happy with the interviews that were done so far. I thank all those for taking the time to do the interviews as they can be a pain.
I think the most shocking answers from these interviews would have to be the fact that G7 dragged their feet when given the chance to release Refused’s “The Shape of Punk to come” and Scott from AltPress commented that Jade Tree once passed on signing Interpol. Pretty crazy if you ask me.
I think that as a band looking to get signed, the general consensus with regard to answering what labels look for in bands are bands that are hard-working, self-motivated, and self-sufficient. It seems as though sending unsolicited demos may not be the best way to get a labels attention. Instead, touring, working hard, and becoming friends with other bands may work better. If you have a band on a label who champion what you do, they can be your best method for getting a label’s attention. All that time spent on sending press packs and contacting labels might be better spent on doing all the things you want a label to do on your own band and if you attract more and more fans, labels will come sniffing around.
At this point, I would love to hear your thoughts good and bad. Are there questions that I should ask that I haven’t been? Are there labels that you want to hear from? Note that I have emailed a number of labels and I assume that my interview questions just got buried in their inbox. I will continue to try to ask these folks for an interview, but it might take some time. Ian Mackeye and Fat Mike won’t be able to do email interviews, but I hope to schedule a time to do interviews over the phone. I will keep you posted.
Written by Virgil Dickerson | No Comments
April 24th, 2007
Somerset boast being the first band on Punknews Records. You might wonder what a band on Punknews might sound like and I am willing to bet that Somerset will throw you off, at least a little bit. I know that I was thrown off when I first heard Somerset’s debut for Punknews Records, “Pandora”, as I was expecting a pretty straightforward punk record. If I had to explain Somerset’s sound to others, I might compare them to acts like Bayside and Alkaline Trio although those comparisons don’t explain the whole story. “Pandora” is a great record and Somerset are a very interesting band.
Matt Broadbent of Somerset was so kind as to answer my questions and elaborate on such things as stop worrying about getting the attention of labels, his thoughts on the future of music sales, and what he is currently listening to most. Thanks Matt for taking the time to do this interview.
Everyone, please check out Somerset; you can listen to 3 songs from “Pandora” on their myspace page.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | No Comments
April 23rd, 2007
I am excited to bring you this interview with Greg Ross from Go Kart Records. Go Kart has existed now for well over 10 years and in that time, Greg has put out a number of pinnacle releases with titles by Anti-Flag, Weston, Lunachicks, The Meatmen, Vice Squad, Ten Foot Pole, Pigmy Love Circus, and so much more. He also runs Go Kart Films, Radio Free Greg (a podcast hosted by Punkradiocast), and has a European office for the label. Greg has a lot going on and it constantly amazes me with all that he is capable of.
Greg speaks about the early beginnings of his label, what he looks for in a band, and his thoughts on the music retail environment and his what he thinks will be the future of music sales.
I highly encourage everyone to read on and please check out what Greg has going on at his website. He just put out a really cool DVD compilation with one of our bands, Ghost Buffalo as well as 30 others. Thanks Greg for taking the time to do this interview.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 7 Comments
April 20th, 2007
I am excited to bring you an interview with Gordy Carbone of the Forgotten. The Forgotten have been playing punk rock for 10 years now and after putting out a number of releases with a number of labels (most recently BYO), the band are gearing up to record a brand new album for long-time home, TKO Records. Lars Frederiksen will be producing the new album come July for a Fall release. Gordy discusses what they look for in a label, what bands can do to get the attention of labels, some of their musical influcences, and what records he is currently listening to.
Thanks Gordy for taking the time to do this interview and everyone, please check out a few tracks on the band’s myspace page.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 1 Comment
April 19th, 2007
It is an honor for me to bring you this interview with Darren Walters of Jade Tree Records. Jade Tree has long been one of two of my biggest influences when it comes to indie labels that I absolutely respect. I think one of the things that have always stood out for me is the fact that Jade Tree has put out so many incredible records from so many different genres that no matter what new release they have coming out, I have to check it out. They were also one of the first labels that I noticed to take the packaging of the release just as seriously as the music itself. Jade Tree is best known for the legendary releases they put out throughout the mid to late 90’s which included some of my favorite records by acts like Lifetime, Jets to Brazil, Kid Dynamite, and Promise Ring. Since that period though, Jade Tree have continued to put out some of the most exciting bands in independent music including Strike Anywhere, Loved Ones, Snowden, These Arms are Snakes, Lords, Denali, From Ashes Rise, Pedro the Lion/David Bazan, and so much more.
Darren was kind enough to share his thoughts on music sales in a post file-sharing/post Tower Records world, the start of Jade Tree, their best selling album, and what they look for in a band. I will admit that he kind of did a cop out answer when it came to the question of the one release he would suggest that everyone take a listen to. Since he didn’t answer that question, I ask all of you to pick your favorite Jade Tree release in their catalog and add it as a comment. My favorite Jade Tree release would have to be Jets to Brazil “Four Cornered Night”, but Lifetime “Jerseys Best Dancers” is a close second.
And I forgot to ask Darren when the Against Me / Lucero split was intended to come out. I think they were supposed to put it out. Maybe I can get him to answer that and add it to the interview.
Thanks Darren for taking the time to do this interview. I urge everyone to keep an eye on this label as they are seriously one of the best independent labels on the planet.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 5 Comments
April 17th, 2007
Scouts Honor’s Jared Grabb was kind enough to answer these questions about his band, the music industry, and his thoughts on the future of music sales. Taken from the band’s site, the band explains:
SCOUTS HONOR is a traveling three-piece rock’n'roll explosion. They sing about what they know specifically; that is the Midwest and the Farms, Friends, and Family that populate it. SCOUTS HONOR has shared the stage with such great performers as Against All Authority, Leftover Crack, Planes Mistaken For Stars, Minus The Bear, The Velvet Teen, These Arms Are Snakes, Spitalfield, Aloha, Examination Of The…, Ten Grand, and Denison Witmer. The have been on tour all year and have a new album, “I AM THE DUST”, out on No Idea Records.
Although I don’t know Scouts Honor very well, I know that Gared of Planes is good buddies with them and any friend of his is a friend of mine. Planes were based in the same home town that Scouts Honor call home, Peoria, Illinois, and it seems as though Scouts Honor draw from similar inspirations that Planes do.
Thanks Jared for taking the time to do this interview. Everyone stop by their Myspace page and check out a few tracks.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | No Comments
April 16th, 2007
I would like to share with you the following interview I did with Seth Hyman of Negative Progression Records. I have known Seth for close to 8 years now and in that time, Seth and I have not only worked together (we used to handle distribution for NPR), but I consider him one of my closest friends. We speak a couple times a week to bounce ideas off each other and to discuss our frustrations with running a record label. One of the reasons I started this label interview series is to show readers what labels of all sizes have to say about the state of the music industry. Negative Progression is definitely one of those smaller labels, but as you read, you will see that Seth has some very interesting thoughts on running a label, what he looks for in future bands, and he discusses his decision to broaden the sound that Negative Progression puts out.
Seth has put out a number of releases which includes acts like Over It, Counterfit, The Goodwill, and more recently One Way Letter, Amity, The Progress, and soon Desoto Jones and The Subtle Way.
Please take the time to read this interview and definitely check out what Seth has going on. Thanks Seth for taking the time to do this interview.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 9 Comments
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