What was the conversation with yourself that convinced you to start a label?
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I’ll have to squeeze an orange tree into a can of concentrate for this one, but basically all my money was being converted into a pocket full of mysterious ATM receipts and a head full of blackouts. I think the big “put my ass in motion” moment came one morning laying around while brutally hungover. I had just graduated from college and was doing pretty much nothing. Just partying hard. Doing the worm on bowling lanes and shit. THE USUAL. Anyway, I was laying there trying to picture shit like, “Hmmm . . . how many times could fill this room with all the cartons of cigarettes I’ve smoked?” or “I wonder if a landfill could hold all the cans of beer I’ve drank over time.” It sounds all funny and glorified now, but it was sad as fuck. This stuff made me realize I didn’t really want to die without accomplishing SOMETHING I actually cared about. I mean, I think I had recently broken my arm lighting a cigarette while skateboarding too. It was just a sad, sad culmination of events. The record label seemed like a more tangible pursuit. Why not MAKE them shits?! Somebody else makes them, and they look like shit most times too! I can do better than that! And of course, it was a natural thing for me too anyway. Being a person willing to chase a dream into credit card debt despite all forms of logic. The funny thing is . . . my alcoholism only got worse! Sorry if my thoughts are all discombobulated. I just spent my lunch break digging a grave for my dog. I used to feed her some great German beer. You might think that’s animal cruelty, but I think it’s animal awesomeness. AND she was a German Shepherd so it’s in her blood anyway.
Explore the roots of four local labels (and give them a listen): »HoZac’s catalog of rock ‘n’ roll, garage, and scuzz »Chocolate Industries bridges IDM with hip-hop »Peira packages the abstract »Not Normal Tapes documents the midwest hardcore scene
The minds behind Drag City, Thrill Jockey, and more explain, “This is how I’d run a label”: »Dan Koretzky, Drag City »Bettina Richards, Thrill Jockey »Michael Frank, Earwig »Plus, a whole bunch more
What’s your favorite underappreciated album released by a local label (not counting your label)?
