Sydney Christensen (Kill Rock Stars)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2021? (In order 1-5)
If i was the type to include our own releases, I would be in a funny situation because we released more than five records this year. I will avoid that entire situation by listing the following not KRS releases:
- Xenia Rubinos Una Rosa. I've been such a huge fan of hers for so long and each track she features in excites me, let alone a much anticipated full-length record !!! it's so many things all at once, making the record uniquely its own.
- Linda Smith Till Another Time - 1988-1996. I won't ever get enough of this, I am sure.
- Martina Topley - Bird Forever I Wait. Speaking of much anticipated....
- Yes, of course, Dry Cleaning's record. It really is...damn good.
- Pan Daijing Jade
What band did you discover in 2021 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
New Age Steppers!
How did I go this long without knowing about them??? On-U Sound released Avant Gardening with some previously unreleased tracks, which is what caught my attention. I think I brought up in a staff meeting that I never knew about them and all I got was blank stares. which I'm sure you can imagine from a punk label (New Age Steppers is one project of the late and very great Ari Up's (the Slits)
How will you remember 2021? (In terms of music)
I spent most of my musical deep-dive time looking back and less time in new releases. Perhaps this is taboo for someone who works for a label. I really prioritized keeping up with current events / global affairs, and I suppose this was the yin to the yang to the influx of real-time and egregious headlines. Music is an incredible lens to see the social landscape through, but I needed some dusty things too. I'll remember it like flipping through an aged record bin while my thumbs scrolled the NYT app.
What can we look forward to from you in 2022?
All of the records that experienced the infamous record pressing delay will, well, catch up with their delay. I think that's something to look forward to, unless you're sick of us by now -- then plug your ears.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2022?
Supposedly Sade is working on a new record so I will put all of my eggs in that sweet sweet basket and hope it's 2022. I'm sure this is what everyone was hoping the indie label would say.
What went through your head the first time you played live in 2021 after the delay? (If you haven’t -- what do you anticipate when you hit that point?)
I just email and don't do the live music part.
Sydney Christensen – social media links
- Twitter: @killrockstars
- Instagram: @killrockstarsofficial
