Steven Williams (Init Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2017? (In order 1-5)
- Propagandhi - Victory Lap
- Wolves In The Throne Room - Thrice Woven
- Mountain Goats - Goths
- Amenra - Mass VI
- Hexis - Tando Ashanti
2. What band did you discover in 2017 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
This year I got to go on a two week tour of Europe with Woman Is The Earth, which was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was introduced to some great bands that they shared the stage which that I thought were amazing: The Fifth Alliance, Wode, and Archivist. I didn't think I would discover any new bands on the tour that would impress me as much as those three bands did!
3. How will you remember 2017? (In terms of music)
My best memory in terms of music and 2017 will be the aforementioned European summer tour with Woman Is The Earth.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2018?
Woman Is The Earth - This Place That Contains My Spirit LP, Krieg/Vegas split 7", and some other stuff in the works but not enough to talk about it yet.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2018?
New albums from Superchunk, Krieg, Panopticon, Watain, Hot Snakes...
6. For most, 2017 will be remembered as a year of political and social conflict. How does that cultural atmosphere influence your own music or artistic life?
I've always worked with artists that have left leaning politics, for the most part, whether the bands themselves are political or not. Although my label isn't overtly political on the surface, coming from punk rock, it's always been something that is important to me, and I really don't have any interest in people supporting my label if they don't believe in equal rights for all genders, races, and orientations.
