April 13th, 2007
Reported by Idolator, interviewed by X-Press Online, Glenn Kotche of Wilco explains his thoughts on their music being shared on P2P sites and the possible leak of their upcoming album. Here is an excerpt:
The album streamed on the web. Does it concern you that people will end up with copies of the album months before it is officially released?
Not at all. That is how things are going to be. If people are that excited about it that they are going to get the software, figure out how to record it and trade it amongst themselves then I think that is great, they are enthusiastic about it.
I have said it before, it’s absolutely true… I have met countless people at shows who have confessed that they have downloaded our records illegally - or burned copies instead of buying it - and then you see them at a show and they have bought tickets to the show and they are going to buy the older records or t-shirts or whatever. They are supporting the band and for me - and for all of us - it is way more important for the music to be heard than for us to get a little money off of every CD. The reason we make it is for people to enjoy it and for people to relate to it, so that doesn’t bother me at all. I think that people who resist that are kidding themselves and that is the way that it is going to be in the future.
It’s nice to hear a band embrace the technology and not kick against it or fear it.
It is not even the technology for me. You make music, you want people to hear it, you know? If they can’t afford it and want to check it out, I don’t care if they buy it or not.
Granted Wilco is at a level where they make unreal amounts of money from touring. In Denver, they will sell out the Fillmore which holds 3,600 people. Although still interesting to see their take on file-sharing, I had discussed this interview with Limbeck when they were just in town. Limbeck seem to share a similar sentiment, but their complaint was that in an industry where first week scans are absolutely crucial and could make or break their immediate future, file-sharing makes the band nervous. That and their concern is that as CD sales continue to decline and labels struggle more, bands like Limbeck won’t get the opportunity to work with Producers like Ed Rose where the band really feel like they benefited. Expect an interview with those guys soon. Still it is interesting to see what a band like Wilco thinks of all of this.
Written by Virgil Dickerson | 2 Comments
April 13th, 2007
I am excited to bring you this interview from Naples, Florida’s Fake Problems. Fake Problems are a band that you may yet to hear, but trust me that this will change in the near future as the band is set to release a brand new album, “How Far Our Bodies Go”(Sabot Productions); they just got off of a tour with Against Me and Riverboat Gamblers, and they have no plans to stop touring. When you listen to Fake Problems, you hear a rocking combination of Honky Tonk and Punk Rock and it would not be a far stretch to compare them to Against Me. They are currently doing dates with the Draft and will have a full U.S. tour coming soon with Gaslight Anthem.
Chris Farren of Fake Problems discusses what records he is currently listening to; how they hooked up Sabot Productions; what they look for in a label; and facetiously what bands have influenced their songwriting, I think.
Thanks Chris for taking the time to do this interview. I highly recommend everyone check this band out and also be sure to check out their label, Sabot Productions.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | No Comments
April 12th, 2007
I am very proud to share with you the following interview with Derek Hogue of G7 Welcoming Committee. When I started this label interview series, Derek was one of the first people that came to mind to interview and not because Suburban Home handles G7’s distribution. Derek and G7 have always taken a very forward thinking approach to running their label. It came as no surprise when Derek phoned me about a month ago to tell me of the label’s decision to discontinue manufacturing CDs and to offer future titles as digital only. G7 is most well known for being Propagandhi’s label, but they have put out one of the most diverse and incredible catalogs I know of boasting releases by the Weakerthans, Submission Hold, Clann Zu, Greg MacPherson, GFK, Subhumans, and more. Regardless of whether you will love every G7 release, all are worth getting to know as the label doesn’t follow trends and have always pushed boundaries with the releases they put out.
I think if you are going to read one interview on IndieHQ, this should be the one you read. Derek has very intelligent, honest answers about the future of music sales, their decision to stop producing/distributing CDs, and you will not believe what release G7 almost put out. I want to thank Derek for taking the time to answer these questions and I hope everyone takes the time to read.
And again, please keep recommending labels that we should interview. I have some great ones planned for the coming weeks, but I hope to feature 2 label features a week, on Monday’s and Thursday’s.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 17 Comments
April 10th, 2007
Much like the interviews we have been running with labels, I decided to start featuring interviews with bands to see their take on things like music retail and the future of music sales. I hope to bring you bands of every shape and size and I think we will see a varying number of answers for my questions. If there is a band you would like to see featured, please mention it in the comments section.
This first interview is with a band on my label, Love Me Destroyer. I sent over the questions to LMD’s bass player, Taylor. Taylor has been a godsend for the band as he works extremely hard for the band; he keeps in touch with agents, books their tours, and tour manages the act while on tour, and most recently did a tour journal of their tour with Smoke or Fire. Him and I often speak about things pertaining to the industry and I figured it would be interesting to see his thoughts with this interview.
Please read on as Taylor explains his thoughts on the future of sales, what he looks for in a label, and what one song everyone should hear from their latest album.
Also, if you are a booking agent or manager, please consider adding LMD to your roster, you will be glad you did!
See LMD on tour as they are currently touring with Stilletto Formal.
Listen to Love Me Destroyer “The Things Around us Burn”
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | No Comments
April 9th, 2007
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I am excited to bring you this interview with Chris Wrenn, owner of Bridge Nine. Bridge Nine has been for over 10 years documenting the very best in hardcore. They can boast a catalog that includes releases by Give Up the Ghost, Sick of It All, Terror, Champion, Slapshot, The Distance, Death Before Dishonor, and continue the put out the best new acts in Hardcore. Chris shares something you may not know about how he makes his living, his decision to stop producing CD eps, his love for the vinyl format, what one release on his labels that people should check out, and how bands can get his attention.
Thanks Chris for taking the time to do this interview. Please stop by the Bridge Nine site, check out some mp3s, and support what these guys are doing.
If you have a suggestion for a label we should do an interview with, please post it in the comments. thanks.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 7 Comments
April 6th, 2007
Gorilla Vs Bear posts an interview with John Vanderslice on the future of music sales and marketing. He mentions that there will be no print advertising for the next JV record and discusses digital music, record labels, and the number of changes going on at music retail. A very good read. Check it out:
John Vanderslice on the Future of Media and Music [Gorilla Vs Bear]
Written by Virgil Dickerson | 1 Comment
April 5th, 2007
I am proud to bring you an interview with Ross Siegel of Reignition Recordings. Ross cut his teeth in the music industry by starting a fanzine called Law of Inertia. LOI become one of the best-run publications in Punk/Metal/Indie journalism. A few years ago, Ross sold the magazine and in doing so changed the name of his label which was also using the moniker Law of Inertia. This is how Reignition was born. When I decided to feature more consistent interviews with labels on this site, I was excited to share with you labels of all shapes and sizes. Reignition is on smaller side of things, but I feel that Ross has just as much to say about what is going on in the industry than labels ten times his size. Reignition has released bands such as The Static Age, Marathon, Ultimate Fakebook, Dead Girls Ruin Everything, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, as well as tributes to Guns N Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, and Black Flag. He has most recently put out a Reel Big Fish / Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer split CD and a live album by Death By Stereo. As you will read, Ross has strong opinions about what is going on in the industry and for good reason.
Thanks Ross for taking the time to do this interview. I encourage everyone to stop by his label site and check out his artists and releases. I especially recommend checking out the Static Age who i recently saw in Denver; the band writes great music, performs incredibly, and with their recent addition to the Leave Home roster are poised for great things.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 13 Comments
April 2nd, 2007
It is an honor for me to bring you this interview with Ray Harkins of Abacus Recordings. I have known Ray for quite some time as his band, Taken, were at one time distributed by Suburban Home. Ray and I have always seen eye to eye on a number of the goings-on in the music industry so I thought it was rather cool when he started running Abacus. This is a really interesting interview that I recommend reading as Ray not only runs a label, but he does so with the perspective of being in bands himself (formerly Taken, but currently Mikoto). Not only that, but if you haven’t noticed, Abacus has become a powerhouse indie label these days with the high profile signings of acts like Sick of It all, Turbonegro, Juliana Theory, Ignite, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and have had a number of newer acts getting notice like the Cancer Bats and Glass Casket. Please read this interview as Ray gives great perspective on what he looks for in a band, distribution, the future of music sales, and even tells us what one Abacus release he would have every music fan check out.
Thanks Ray for taking the time to answer my questions. I truly appreciate it. And Ray, I did not get a photo from you so I posted the one you have on Myspace. Hope that is cool.
Everybody, please check out Abacus as I am sure you will find a ton of great new acts worth checking out.
This interview marks a consistent feature we hope to bring you twice a week where we interview labels of all sizes. If you know a label that we need to interview, please post it in the comments. Thanks.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 13 Comments
March 26th, 2007
Ok, I know that it is cheesy to do an interview with myself, but honestly, the purpose of this interview is to provide an example to the number of labels that I sent these 10 questions to. I sent out the following 10+ questions to 30 different labels and thought that they would be more likely to answer them if they saw how others had responded. If you know of a label that you think should be interviewed, please post it in the comments. I will hopefully be posting this 10 Questions feature weekly or more often depending on how quickly people get back to me.
Instead of writing an introduction about who I am and what Suburban Home is, I will just jump to the interview. Future interviews though will have a nice little introduction and a photo of the interviewee.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 16 Comments
February 1st, 2007
I am happy to share with you a short interview I did with Craig Ericson of Rise Records. Some of you may not be aware of this, but Rise Records was the first home of bands Fear Before the March of Flames and Anatomy of the Ghost. Lately though, Craig has been rewriting the history of Rise Records with two of his newest acts, Devil Wears Prada and Drop Dead Gorgeous. Devil Wears Prada have sold over 15,000 copies so far and Drop Dead has sold over 22,000 copies so far. Drop Dead Gorgeous has also recently inked a deal with Suretone, an imprint of Geffen all at the urging of super-producer Ross Robinson. Craig was kind enough to discuss some of his recent success and discussed such topics as distribution, what he looks for in a band, and the fact that he is done with EPs. Thanks Craig for your time and I urge everyone to read on as Craig is a great example of a hard working label with hard working bands being able to rise above the over saturation of releases.
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Written by Virgil Dickerson | 2 Comments
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