Pass the Mic is a Scene Point Blank tradition dating back to 2006 in which we turn the tables, sending a set of questions to bands, artists, and labels to get their opinions and memories of the past year in music. This year we've broken it into two pieces. Instead of one massive piece, Pass the Mic will be published in two entries reflecting on 2013 and examining the idea of royalties in an era of digital streaming.
This is part two (you can read part one, featuring bands and artists, here). Here we speak to record labels and industry figures behind the bands you love. We hear from the teams behind labels like Magic Bullet, Twelve Gauge, Red Scare, Escapist, and a bunch more. Read on to hear their answers to our questions including their favorites of 2013, what they're up to in 2014, and the impact music streaming had on their business.
Adam (Say-10 Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
My top 5 are all albums that I would have given appendages to have released in 2013.
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Stabbed in Back! I hadn't heard of them and then all of a sudden we were doing a 7" together. My prediction for 2014 is that these dudes are going to be HUGE. Seriously don't sleep on this band.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
As the year that music saved the world! I can't believe how many great albums came out this year. Everyone loves to reflect back fondly to a point in their teenage years when they really got into music as the best time that music existed... I am now in my 30s and I can honestly say that I haven't had a year impact me as much as 2013 did.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Hopefully another huge year from Say-10. The first handful of releases coming out will be Divided Heaven's Youngblood LP, a Slutever postcard flexi, and a Daycare Swindlers/Walk the Plank 7". Other than that expect a stack of amazing releases that will be announced shortly. Check out www.say-10.com for info.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
I am really excited about the Ann Beretta / Smoke or Fire split and the Grade / Ensign splits that will be happening in 2014. Each release will be accompanied by skateboards for each band. Get stoked!
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I use spotify all day long while I am at my day job. I would rather listen to music I like and give the bands I care about more money for me listening to their songs rather than them getting nothing (I already bought the record and have the mp3s to listen to on my home computer). It is better for their royalty statement to have something on it rather than the 0.00 they would receive if it was all pirated.
Do I wish that bands/labels were paid more? Fuck yeah I do, but at the end of the day we are all involved in something that is juvenile at the best of times. I'll leave the counting of the dollars and cents to the larger labels/bands. I just want to have fun.
Andrew Gomez IV (Glory Kid, Ltd./ Where My Bones Rest Easy - drums
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
1. Queens Of The Stone Age - ... Like Clockwork (Matador) 2. Old Wounds - From Where We Came Is Where We'll Rest (Glory Kid) 3. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty (Sargent House) 4. The Appleseed Cast - Illumination Ritual (Graveface) 5. Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came (Avalanche)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Sneeze, My band (WMBRE) played with them on our last tour a couple nights and they utterly blew me away. Raw, grungy, emotional and a good vibe of '90s influences. Not to mention the best gentlemen.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I will remember it as being a good year for the label, we signed a few more artists to the roster that show a real sense of commitment to their craft which makes me excited for the future.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Sneeze LP, Divider LP, Where My Bones Rest Easy LP, Colony EP, and a few more awesome releases that have yet to be announced.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
New Old Man Gloom record. That goddamn Divider LP. And of course the Sneeze LP.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I like Soundcloud a lot. I've have been finding a lot of new artists that way. Spotify as a consumer is fantastic. But coming from a label/artist standpoint they can improve areas of compensating the artists that are initially bringing them traffic and essentially constructing their business format. You treat artists fair, then then it will all come back to you.
Bob Farley (Mayfly Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Chelsea Wolfe - Pain is Beauty
Modern Life is War - Fever Hunting
True Widow - Circumambulation
Pity Sex - Feast of Love
Daughter - If You Leave
Honorable mentions go to Native, Raspberry Bulbs, Balance and Composure, Widowspeak, Wild Nothing, Cloakroom, MBV, Into It Over It, Beach Fossils, Whirr, The National, Youth Code, and Dead in the Dirt. I, of course, loved my releases but chose to leave them off.
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Wild Nothing was that band for me. Although I may have checked them out in late 2012, it was early 2013 when I started grabbing all of their past releases and couldn't believe I had slept on them so long. Nocturne is an absolutely perfect record, and everything else is great too. I saw them play here earlier this year and they blew me away.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
For me, it was hectic. I feel like something bizarre occurred with every release Mayfly did (weird delays, etc). I thought this year was cool though. I feel like, more then recent years, there was a really diverse group of artists getting recognized for their work in underground music.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
This year will be a step back in production at Mayfly. We plan on doing fewer releases and spending more energy promoting each release and artist. We have a few records we shipped to the plant in 2013 we expect to see soon by True Love, Ages, and Lovechild. We have LPs by Young and Heartless, Whenskiesaregray, and Crisis Arm planned for spring and summer.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Pianos Become the Teeth, Sneeze, and bunch of stuff not coming to mind.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
For me, although it isn't perfect, I think ultimately it is helpful to a small label with smaller artists. [It] gives people an easy way to check out our releases. This helps sell records to those who enjoy the physical format, and helps get kids into shows Mayfly touring artists are playing far from home. I can cry about pennies I'm not making, but in a lot of instances the kid listening on spotify never planned on buying a record from me regardless.
Brent Eyestone (Magic Bullet Records/ Highness)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
I can't remember what came out specifically in 2013, so let me remember my top 5 shows of 2013 and I'm sure they correspond with new albums from the same artist:
Nine Inch Nails
Sigur Rós
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Integrity
Night Birds
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Beastmilk, hands down. Kurt (Ballou, Converge) recorded them and got immediately in touch when the production was done, as he knew it would be right up my alley. The album is legitimately one of my favorite records of all time and something I regard as an instant classic, so it's a complete honor and wholly inspiring to be working with the band and helping bring their music to people who will hopefully feel the same about what they're doing.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I'm going to look back very fondly on 2013 personally and otherwise. There were so many incredible tours and performances out there, a ton of great records, and it just really felt like everything was clicking on all cylinders.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
From this end, we've got more stuff in the works from Beastmilk, This Will Destroy You, Bleach Everything (new band feat dudes from Jesuit, Suppression, Corn on Macabre, Iron Reagan), Rope Cosmetology, Brother Dege (bluesman from NOLA), Integrity, and more.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
I haven't had time to stop and think or look at what's set to come out, but I'm just going to go ahead and trust that plenty of great stuff will indeed come out.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
It's definitely a bit jarring to look at the math involved. Fairer artist revenue needs to be implemented if streaming is the direction we're heading. It will be interesting to see if the audience keeps gravitating toward it or abandons it with time. We'll see and we'll adjust accordingly.
Chris Bruni (Profound Lore Records - owner)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
The Haxan Cloak – Excavation
Tim Hecker – Virgins
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Push The Sky Away
Antediluvian – Logos
Bölzer – Aura/ Boards Of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest (tie)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
The one I can think of right off the top of my head is The Haxan Cloak. Can’t remember the last time I was so floored and blown away by production value on an album and considering Excavation is the darkest and most harrowing album to be released in 2013, right alongside the latest albums by Portal and Grave Miasma, makes it even more special.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
It was a good year for creativity I think and I discovered quite a few new things in music that I really got into and I can’t remember any other year where I got into new sounds. And I think this year I don’t think I’ve deemed stuff like riffs irrelevant as much as ever before.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
New albums by Agalloch, The Atlas Moth, Impetuous Ritual, Leviathan, Pallbearer, and Dawnbringer just to name a few select titles. Really psyched for people to hear the new Atlas Moth, especially considering I think they should be the buzz-band in heavy music next year. And the Psalm Zero debut LP will be quite deep as well.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
The only album that I can currently think of (outside of my releases) that I’m really looking forward to hearing next year is the debut WIFE album.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
It does make you question the accountability of these things, especially when you find out how much the CEOs of these companies (like Spotify) are actually worth and how much money they have. There was this article I read not too long ago about the millions of dollars Daniel Ek has and how much he is worth, etc. And here I am just trying to put up with Spotify more and more and come to terms with its relevance in the music industry today and just be like, “Fuck it, just put the damn albums up on Spotify.” At the same time, I’m now also coming back to that evasive approach to even dealing with it when it first launched in the U.S. (mind you it hasn’t launched in Canada yet so I have yet to actually try the service itself). But anyway I digress, the best platform to actually stream and discover music is on Bandcamp anyway.
Chris Mason (Dirt Cult Records/ Low Culture)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Radioactivity – S/T LP
Iron Chic – The Constant One LP
Hard Skin – Why Do Birds Suddenly Appears LP
Future Virgins – Late Republic LP
Big Eyes – Almost Famous LP
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I've discovered a ton of bands in 2014 (many of whom I'll be working with in 2014). Allvaret is an awesome Swedish band that people who enjoy Masshysteri and the Vicious will love. Blank Pages from Germany play awesome melodic hardcore for fans of the Wipers and Red Dons. Oh and Needles//Pins! Awesome power-pop from Canada.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
2013 was a great year for music (specifically punk). I found myself more excited by new bands and the caliber of releases across the board than I have in quite some time. In terms of my own involvement, 2013 was amazing. Low Culture released a record on my favorite label (Dirtnap), got to tour Europe, and play a lot of shows all over the US. Oh, and Dirt Cult released 14 new records, all of which were pretty great if I do say so myself.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
I have a ton of stuff in the works this year including LPs from Allvaret, Blank Pages, Needles//Pins, Muhammadali, The Distressers, and Unwelcome Guests, an Apocalypse Meow! 7" in addition to a split 7" from Iron Chic/Low Culture. Low Culture will also be doing the Southwest leg of the Iron Chic US tour which will be great. I always love spending time with those dudes. Dirt Cult is also doing a showcase show in Austin on March 15th which should be interesting.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
I'm certainly looking forward to all of the upcoming Dirt Cult releases. Past that, I'm not too up to date about a lot of upcoming releases. I do think there is already another Radioactivity record recorded which will no doubt the destroy anything else that comes out in 2014.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I really don't have much of an issue with the streaming services. I mean, they certainly don't pay well, but I think that they expose more people to the music I'm releasing. In 2013 I also saw an uptake in digital sales and I would hypothesize that this is at least partly due to people being exposed to the bands through the various streaming services. It really seems that at least some people are using these sites to discover new music, and are still willing to throw down a few dollars to download the release if they enjoy it.
Cory Von Bohlen (Halo of Flies Records/ Protestant)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Crusades - Perhaps You Deliver This Judgement with Greater Fear than I Receive It LP
Killers Walk Among Us - Bonjour Tristesse/Denial 7"
Guantanamo Party Program - II LP
Dominic - Persona LP
Svffer - s/t 7"
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
ACCIDENTE. Their first LP was the best thing I had heard (in a similar vein) since La Fraction. I was hooked instantly. Political melodic punk from Spain that’s sincere, rockin’, and screams "Get off your ass and do something punk!"
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Too much crap, too much awesome, too much weird. I think we are --or definitely I am--hitting capacity to keep track and compile all the musical activity that’s happening around us. I can barely keep up and I’m fairly entrenched. Social media, streaming sites, blogs, et al…It’s endless! Also, fuck those two guys who call themselves SLAYER.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Right away in January: HEXIS abalam LP / AMBER - LOCKTENDER split 7" / ACCIDENTE LP.
Then after: NORTHLESS world keeps sinking DLP repress, SUFFERING MIND / GUANTANAMO PARTY PROGRAM split, PROTESTANT new LP…new stuff from MASAKARI, LIGHT BEARER, RUINS, NORTHLESS, and some I can’t mention yet. I’m fairly booked up and stoked.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
I want a new ANATHEMA record, more CLOUD RAT, whatever the hell KILLERS AMONG US do next, KLIMT1918's forthcoming record.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I can imagine a few issues, but they don’t affect me. Should I look into it more to better answer this question? Nah. Revenue streams bore me. I don’t give a shit if 'x' band is getting shafted by some site that’s streaming or selling its virtual music in some less-than-fair way. I wouldn’t be surprised if my records/bands are all over the internet for a price they/I don’t get a cut of. I don’t have time to worry about it, to be honest, at this point.
Got a problem with it? Fix your problem. Royalties I see or pay are in physical product. I prefer bandcamps and websites, all the rest are gummed up pains in the proverbial ass. If I was, say, Tony Victory, I might care more about this. But then I'd be one of the top 5 biggest piles of shit in the record biz, so I’d have bigger fish to fry.
Daryl (Razorcake/ Spokenest)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Acid Fast - Rabid Moon (cassette on Stupid Bag, LP soon on Protagonist)
I don’t feel entirely comfortable because of the role I played in it being released, but Badlands, So Little (http://outinthedesert.bandcamp.com) belongs somewhere on there.
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Acid Fast! We played with them in Oakland on our May West Coast tour, and there was no doubt it felt good. I really enjoyed the band, they were all sweet people, the show was held in the drummer’s living room, and then I heard the record. It destroys. I love everything about it. I’ve had to deal with a CDR of it for months and can’t wait to get a copy of the vinyl at some point in 2014.
If you’re like me, you dearly miss Homerowners. Acid Fast make the longing a little easier. Ultra tight male/female vocal trade-offs. Honest, worthwhile music. The breakdowns at the end of Hannah’s songs get me every time. The sound clips still make me laugh. I listen to this CDR a lot.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
It was a year we – musically – went out on our own. Self-releasing the Spokenest 12” EP and the Badlands cassette. But also saw some of our oldest friends sign to a major. A lot of questioning, and the answers are still unapparent.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Razorcake will be releasing the debut LP from LA’s White Murder. It’ll be a split release with Recess, as well as releasing a 7” from NY’s Chantey Hook (ex-Super Chinchilla Rescue Mission). That’ll be a split release with ADD.
Spokenest is releasing a 4-song cassette. Short run of 100. Hopefully we’ll be doing a couple of these and then releasing them all as an LP.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Acid Fast, Tim Version.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
Are any of these sites viable sources of income? It seems like just another trade-off of exposure and accessibility for someone else making money off advertising. With that people get to listen to your music and possibly find out about your music, but don’t expect any money. I don’t have a preferred one, but I’ve never received a cent of royalties in my life, and only use sites that I understand.
Enrique Sagarnaga (Season of Mist - publicist)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Gorguts - Colored Sands
Nightbringer/Dodsengel - Circumambulations of the Solar Inferno
Cult of Fire - ?????? ?? ????? ????????
Bolzer - Aura
Nocturnal Graves - From the Bloodline of Cain
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I discovered an array of new black metal bands that belong in the realm of occult music. The lyrics are both powerful and inspiring, and the music is always full of ambitious atmospheres. New bands include Irkallian Oracle, Svartidaudi, Situs Magus, etc.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
One of the better years for the progression of metal into the eyes of the mainstream. Seeing Gorguts' new record land on Rolling Stone's best metal records of the year showcases how far we've come as a genre and as a label.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
New music from Cynic, Floor, Weedeater, Hark, Beyond Creation, Archspire, Cannabis Corpse and more!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Hopefully an output from Deathspell Omega!
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I am all the for the promotion and spreading of music. Sites like Spotify do pay small percentages of royalties to artists, however, the benefit is reaped in exposure. Spotify, Bandcamp, blogs streaming music from new bands, and YouTube have helped me discover bands I would have likely not known about previously. I feel that discerning music fans who really care about their music will purchase physical formats, regardless of their availability on streaming services.
Personally, I love Bandcamp the most. The site offers great streaming services, and allow bands and labels alike to sell their music and merchandise effectively. Bandcamp discovery is a great way to find new bands, and take a look at other people's collections.
Eric Quach (TQA Records/ thisquietarmy)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
I honestly didn't listen to many new albums in 2013, which doesn't mean that I haven't listened to much new music in general. I mostly discover new bands on the road, or through news feeds or/and Bandcamp - which is somewhat unfocused in a way. I'm sure I've missed out on a lot of stuff but there were also quite a few disappointments. Of the few that I've actually grabbed, here are those who got repeated listens - in no particular order:
Esmerine - Dalmak
Year of No Light - Tocsin
Boards of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest
Sigur Ros - Kveikur
Haxan Cloak - Excavation
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I discovered Destruction Unit when I got asked to open for them in Montreal. We both really liked each other's set and we found out we were touring Europe at the same time and tried to book some shows together - in the end we played again in Milan a couple of months later, and it was a blast! Also I discovered Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats at Amplifest in Porto - I've only heard of them prior to that point and I really got to enjoy their set. And not discoveries but perhaps re-discoveries: Colin Stetson's performance at The Rialto in Montreal was mindblowing, as were Jerusalem In My Heart's at the National in Montreal for their record launch. Also Low in Leuven, Belgium - which I've been waiting to catch again since forever.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Personally, 2013 will be the year I have performed in Brazil, Turkey, Greece, and Texas, and also a lot of the southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, and south of France. I played more than 60 shows all over, on top of releasing my latest album, Hex Mountains, a split record with Labirinto and a Live in Sao Paulo, Brazil DVD. It was a great year for me musically, lots of cultural experiences and travelling related to music, which in turn makes it fun to abandon your house for a few months to go out and play shows.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Collaborative records with Noveller & Syndrome (Mathieu from Amenra) are in the pipelines for this spring. I'm also working on a release for a Japanese label in hopes to do a Japan tour later this year. I'll probably work here and there on the follow-up to Hex Mountains - although it's a bit daunting since it's been pretty well received, might take my time. I'll also be returning to Europe in April 2014 to play the Dudefest in Karlsruhe with Church of Ra, Locrian, True Widow, and more, also the Dunk Festival in Belgium with Nadja among others - currently booking the rest of that spring tour, which will probably turn out to be another crazy one.
As for the TQA Records micro-label activities, I'm currently working on the full-lengths from Sequences, Mains de Givre, and Le Chat Blanc Orchestra, and also a new one-of-a-kind thisquietarmy release series project that has been in the works for over year now called "I Heart Drone" - which will probably piss off collectors, but it's really meant to be an art project rather than a product.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Looking forward to the new Silver Mt. Zion and Mogwai records actually. And not records - but looking forward to two nights of Godspeed You! Black Emperor & Neurosis co-headlining at the Metropolis in Montreal in a few weeks.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
We don't have Spotify in Canada (or do we yet?) but for the sake of giving an opinion, I'm not a fan of those sites as I don't like to listen to music that way. I also don't believe that any of those services can provide any kind serious money for artists/bands of our caliber, if at all. So I choose to focus on other things such as hard touring, selling physical merch in person, provide a mailorder service and having a Bandcamp available in case people with a bit of common sense can choose to support the artist directly without going through all those middlemen.
Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer/ House of Low Culture/ SIGE Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
(I can't put them in order)
Elaine Radigue - Feedback Works 1969-1970
Daniel Menche - Vilke and Marriage of Metals
Kevin Drumm - Humid Weather and Crowded
Mohamed - Som Sakrifis
NPR - Science Fridays
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Black Spirituals. They are an amazing project from Oakland, CA. One of the best live shows I have ever seen/felt, and a great community full of life positive energy. Also really great new friends and amazingly talented and nice people.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Great records, talented soulful humans, flagging sales, yet a pervasive underground of inspirational momentum, positivity and creative will.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Studio full-length for Mamiffer - Austeja, a recording of our live set.
Proper studio full-length for Mamiffer of 13 songs.
US tours for Mamiffer and House of Low Culture
3 new books
Many new SIGE releases
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Not on SIGE:
Aaron Turner & Daniel Menche (Taiga Records)
Alex Barnett (Spectrum Spools)
New Circle
New Alcest
On SIGE;
Jon Mueller/Death Blues
Mesa Ritual
Daniel Menche & William Fowler Collins
Oakeater
Menace Ruine
MARA
Black Spirituals
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I just hope people continue to appreciate, support artists and buy their records regardless of streaming sites.
Greg Karlowitsch (Season of Mist - Sales)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
In Solitude - Sister
Tribulation - The Formulas Of Death
Magic Circle - S/T
Exhumed - Necrocracy
Inquisition - Obscure Verses For The Multiverse
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I discovered a lot of bands in 2013 with help from friends, coworkers and other peoples' "Best Of" lists. Some notable bands that came my way this year were Tribulation, Magic Circle, Nocturnal Graves, Beastmilk, and Bolzer. All of these were significant in the fact that they are classic style bands within their genre, but have a twist that hasn't happen yet in their respective scenes.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
A great and innovative year for the more occult and dark side of the metal spectrum.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
New music from Cynic, Floor, Weedeater, Hark, Beyond Creation, Archspire, Cannabis Corpse and more!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Hopefully new High On Fire and definitely new Tombs.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I do use some music streaming services occasionally. Personally, I think the pennies that streaming sites offer artists are still more than the 0 dollars they will see from illegal downloading. Plus, some services show tour dates based on your location, so it's good advertising to push fans to the live concert where the band actually gets their pay from. I don't think streaming services are the best thing to ever happen to music, but I also don't think that they are as evil as some people make them out to be.
Jihad M. Rabah (Twelve Gauge Records - owner/ Family Drugs - co-owner)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Dead In The Dirt - The Blind Hole
Comadre - Self-titled
E-minor & The Dirty Diamonds - Longcuts
Deafheaven - Sunbather
Modern Life Is War - Fever Hunter
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Eric from Sabertooth Zombie and members of other awesome Bay Area hardcore bands have a side project, E-minor & The Dirty Diamonds, that plays a mix of bluegrass, country, and folk music. Their full-length, Longcuts, got a ton of play throughout 2013 as it was the perfect break from everything else. Highly recommend you track them down online or see a live show. They're some really talented musicians.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I’m not sure. I have to admit that 2013 was a really hectic year for me with a lot going on outside running my labels. It was probably the slowest year for Twelve Gauge with only 3 LPs having come out, and one EP on Family Drugs, but I’d much rather do nothing than put out music I don’t feel passionate about. I guess 2013 was the year that passed me by.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
I’m now working with Deathwish’s distribution company to get my releases out in stores and to fans and I’m running my own online store again after about 3 years of it being run by our friends at Hellfish. I’m excited to take things back in to my own hands and plan to collaborate with new people and friends who are doing cool things that I can get behind. Aiming to get at least 4-6 great records out before the end of 2014 but nothing is final and ready to announce.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
I’m a big fan of Loma Prieta and am looking forward to what they’ll put out this year. I also know that the Creative Adult LP is due out sometime in spring and heard that a Dangers EP is in the work as well. Also eager to see what Nervous comes out with next time they hit the studio and hope to see Sabertooth Zombie blast out the long-awaited Human Performance 4 EP.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I think it really depends on who you are. I imagine if you are Beyonce, Spotify is likely a good source of income versus what’s paid out via radio plays. But who knows? I just run a small hardcore label that doesn’t reach a fraction of what the real players do. I know that for me, I see statements that total to pennies and probably cost more to print. It isn’t helping me much. Sites like Bandcamp are far more reliable and effective for me to get my music out there and give fans the option of paying for digital copies of my releases.
Kevin Gan Yuen (Sutekh Hexen, Ogham)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Kinit Her - The Poet and the Blue Flower (Brave Mysteries)
Pan Gu - Primeval Man Born of the Cosmic Egg (Utech)
Mamiffer - Live Through Menche (Sige)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
A few actually, without getting specific, some artists on CMI (Cold Meat Industries), which always had great packaging aesthetics. Pretty strong catalog, in terms of lasting impressions. Their influence is undeniable, because so many contemporary artists are aping their atmosphere and style now. We could also mention the 20th Century Masters series of the Mamas and the Papas, which was the last CD I bought at Amoeba. My mom used to play them in the house while I was growing up. Weird stuff.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Re-visitations and revelations : Wrong and being wronged.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
There are a handful of new albums and projects in the works, but I can tell you about that all a little bit later. It is going to be a really busy year.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Good question. I am pretty much looking forward to finishing our own record!
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
It sounds like a mess.
From my understanding, it is the larger labels and the license holders of the content that are the culprits here. With that established, this debate almost exclusively focuses on a handful of bands and the contracts that are honored when one decides to work with the other.
To be honest, the income of the musicians, including myself and most of the bands that my friends play in, doesn't even constitute a fraction of a fraction in this equation, but it's the principal of the matter. And that is the morality issues of whether or not artists of varying tiers have been getting fucked over by opportunistic "label" entities that try to claim ownership of their work. In this case, I am glad that the accused made it very blatant that some labels/platforms don't give half a shit about the artists OR their work, but the solely financial aspect of the business. Folks, just ask for what you want, follow-through on your offer(s) and make it work for everybody involved. Don't be an asshole.
In the end, support your favorite artists and new artists that you actually like. Buy their records and go to their shows. Digital media is painfully limiting for everybody but the distributors and robbing potential life-long listeners of the experiences of going in record stores, mail-ordering, and valuable interactions with the individuals who make it happen.
It's not that hard.
Michael Phillips (Escapist Records - owner)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Carcass - Surgical Steel (Nuclear Blast)
Seizures - The Sanity Universal (Independent)
Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience (RCA)
The Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer (Sumerian)
Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty (Sargent House)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I discovered Ka right at the tail end of 2012 because I saw his full-length Grief Pedigree on a friend’s list of favorites. Ka is a Brooklyn-based rapper that releases his music through his own record label; his style is very fresh compared to what is popular across hip-hop right now. It’s very honest and dark but not in an over-the-top kind of way. His latest LP, The Night’s Gambit, which was released this year, was my second favorite hip-hop record.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Every year is the same in a manner of speaking; I come across a lot of new music and try to absorb and appreciate as much as I can. It can be tough since the internet has made things so disposable. This is where the tangible product continues to hold meaning with me. If there is a physical release of a record I like, I’ll seek it out.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
February will see the My Mouth is the Speaker 7” and Sworn Vengeance 12” dropping, plus we have the re-press of the Light Years 7” that will be out in the same time. There are two other LP’s and two 7” releases currently planned for the year as well. Those will be revealed over time. Outside of that, there are a few other random releases that may happen depending on bands recording timeframes. The one 12” LP that will be released is a reissue of one of my favorite hardcore records ever so I’m extremely excited to announce that.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Withdrawal’s first full-length is at the top of my list. Not only do they write some of the best music but they’re super nice and down to earth guys. I look forward to hearing what will likely be my album of the year from them. Outside of that, if Cave In gets around to doing something new I’d be pretty stoked about that too.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I really don’t use any of those sites. But from a label standpoint, I find it useful to make our releases available on the various streaming services so that individuals can access the music to listen before they hopefully buy the real product and then continue to support the artist(s) by seeing them live and buying merch.
Rainer Fronz (Learning Curve Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Whores – Clean
Monogamy Party – False Dance
Blind Shake – Key To a False Door
STNNNG - Empire Inward
Pissed Jeans - Honeys
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
-
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Kind of a blur, missed a lot of it with the expansion of our family. Since 2014 is going to be so awesome, I guess it will be remembered as the planning year for 2014.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Debut LP from UK’s Henry Blacker, Disasteratti’s second LP, LCR debut from Animal Lover, Debut LP from North Carolina’s Power Take Off, Butcher’s Waltz Vol 2., Debut LP from San Antonio’s Grasshopper Lies Heavy, a Record Store Day release and some other top secret goodies!!!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
See previous list.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I have always been a proponent of streaming sites. It presents the opportunity for an individual to listen to something they might not have otherwise. Getting played on radio/featured in press isn’t always feasible for many artists and labels. However, the royality system for these sites is crap. It is the new reality of music. The ideal situation would be that someone streams a band, then goes to band’s site and purchases a physical copy. There is nothing more frustrating then receiving a statement from a streaming site, indicating 50 streams that generate 6 cents. Thanks Internet.
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Reuben has done illustration for deafheaven, Destruction Unit, Chelsea Wolfe, Ascetic House, Gag, Russian Circles, and more.
Brainbombs – Disposal Of A Dead Body
Mark Kozelek & Desertshore
Dark Buddha Rising - Dakhmandal
Black Boned Angel - The End
Destruction Unit - Deep Trip
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Glifted. Haven't heard too many bands really that can achieve the same sound. Highly recommended listen. Thanks Lindsay!
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
The year Jarred and Petey took over and deafheaven became the world’s most popular "metal" band.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
More art, more records.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
The Goslings should record something new. They won’t though. Some Ember LP is gonna slay.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
It’s all the same: the digital age is cheap and you don't have to buy into it.
Rich Loren Balling (Handmade Birds)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Locrian - Return To Annihilation (Relapse)
Black Boned Angel - The End (Handmade Birds)
Pharmakon - Abandon (Sacred Bones)
In Solitude -Sister (Metal Blade)
Pinkish Black - Razed To The Ground (Century Media)
Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (XL)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I enjoyed spending time this year revisiting a few bands that had previously had a great impact on me and enjoying that impact all over again: The Appleseed Cast, Hot Water Music, as well as spending many months immersed in Rocky Votolato's True Devotion record. These records provided a nice balance to the somber dark stuff I have been listening to so much in recent years.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I will remember it as the year that I started enjoying Icona Pop and turned 36 which cast me into a permanent place where being kvlt matters not as long as I am enjoying my life and my creative pursuits.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
New releases from Prurient, Barren Harvest, Burial Hex, Cindytalk, Gates.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
First, there really is no debate, because the technology can't be stopped. Second, it has been proven that Spotify fluctuates between being the number one and number two source of revenue for labels and artists alike in Europe.
Sean McCulloch (Anti-Matter Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
I limited my picks to releases that I had actually purchased and were not on my own label.
Kwaiden - Make All the Hell of Dark Metal Bright (Bathetic)
Integrity - Suicide Black Snake (A389 Recordings)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Power Trip - Manifest Decimation (Southern Lord)
Bands such as this just always remind me of what I love about fast aggressive music. I started off as a punk kid and so whenever I hear something that's so heavily influenced by the punk aesthetic, I tend to gravitate towards it. It seems that no matter what kind of music I may gain interest in, be it different styles, genres, or bands, the one thing that always still gets me pumped and amped up is something fast, heavy and aggressive. There's a few active bands going right now that seem to be getting back to that root principle. I think that so many different bands and genres of music have an undeniable connection to the punk sound, attitude and aesthetic. There's a certain mentality and thought process that is connected with it and I think ANYONE that's involved in the underground music scene can appreciate and respect that. When you see bands such as Power Trip, Trash Talk, Fucked Up, etc. you can't help but to fully realize what they're trying to achieve, and trying to achieve by and large on their own and independent of the high price, glitzy, glammy outlets, regardless of the fact that you might not even like their music. To me, that's a huge factor into a lot of the music I like and something I try to take into great consideration when running my label. I think that's something that many other label owners try very consciously to pay attention to as well.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I will remember 2013 as being the year that I learned so many great lessons about running a label. I feel like I've learned a lot about organization and planning/scheduling. This was my first year with the label for which I learned about my own limits with releases, budgets, organization etc. I'm greatly looking forward to applying what I've learned in 2013 to my release schedule and organization of my releases in 2014.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
The first half of they year I'm hoping to take a bit slower and focus a bit more on PR kind of stuff for my previous releases, working on getting my releases out there into more brick and mortar stores. The second half of the year I have numerous releases already planned that I'm really excited about and I'm hoping to just keep up with good, quality releases. I also hope to see a little bit more diversity injected into the type of releases that get released on the label.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Bird Eye full-length (I hope this see's the light of day at some point in 2014) (Fuck Yoga)
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I feel as though I'm always at a battle of conscience over this topic. There's a part of me that completely hates the idea of having digital versions of all of my release, but I'm also realistic about the importance of it as well. When I started the label, it was my intent to remain pretty true to analog formats and to stay away from digital ones. The problem is this... there's always going to be someone that's going to create a digital format of your releases. I figured, if someone's going to put it out there, it might as well be the one to do it. I might not be 100% into the idea of creating digital versions of my releases, but I'd prefer to be the one to do it and make sure that there is a high quality digital version out there rather than a poor quality version and have no control over it at all. At least this way, I/the artist has total control over the finished digital product.
As for which I prefer, I use Bandcamp. After spending much time and effort researching different sites such as iTunes and other sites/companies, I just eventually came to the conclusion that Bandcamp was the site that seemed to make the most sense for me and my needs. I suppose I ultimately like the idea of iTunes, but after consideration, it just seemed that I was sacrificing too much, both creative control and fees to someone other than myself and/or the artists. I'm realistic and honest with myself about the idea of some people making money from running a label and distro. But for me, that's not my main concern. It's EXTREMELY important to me to retain as much creative control of the day-to-day operation of the label as well as for the artists I work with to retain as much artistic control as possible with their release(s). To me, it's about making myself as accessible as possible to the people who may have an interest in what I'm doing. For so long, I refused to use certain social media outlets but after much urging from a friend who suggested it for purposes pertaining to the label, I finally did it. As it turned out, it was one of the best choices I've made with running my label. I'm able to have so much interaction with the people who are making purchases, creating music, creating art, etc. I greatly love that aspect just as much as finding and releasing music.
Starcleaner Records/ Shellshag
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Nuclear Santa Claust - Order of the New Age (Don Giovanni Records)
Hard Feelings - Swell (Starcleaner)
Hilly Eye - Reasons to Live (Giovanni Records)
Dead Dog - Precious Child (Dead Broke Records)
Dark Rides - Walk the Floors (Do Ya Hear We)
7"/10" mentions:
Frozen Teens - Oakland Footsteps 7" (Starcleaner)
Kreamy 'Lectric Santa/Bobby Joe Ebola split 7" (All Killer No Filler)
Garbage/Screaming Females split 10" - Because the Night
Screaming Females – Chalk Tape cassette
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Lilith Velkor. Look them up. Great guys, great band. Re-motivated us to give a shit.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
The year Shellshag played Hawaii and joined the band Underground Railroad to Candyland at Awesome Fest in San Diego.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
We are putting together a book, 2 full-length records, a 6 week US tour, and a re-release of our first full length - Destroy Me I'm Yours. Oh yeah, and I promised a friend I'd talk the Ergs into doing a live show!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Black Rainbow, Screaming Females, Underground Railroad to Candyland, Benny and the Jet Rodriguez, a new P.S. Elliot (although I don't think this is happening, I'd like it too), Lilith Velkor and the next Laura Stevenson album.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
We focus on our music.
Thom Wasluck (Music Ruins Lives/ Planning for Burial)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Night Beds - Country Sleep
Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
Lee Noble - Ruiner
Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came
My Bloody Valentine - mbv
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I didn't do as much discovering this year as I did changing my habit of hording every bit of music I could get my hands and instead just spending time with the music I have already owned as a whole.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Just spending time with old favorites.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Finally releasing my new full-length Desideratum in late spring as well as a handful of other smaller cassette/EP releases.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Have A Nice Life's The Unnatural World
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I like to use bandcamp. It's more direct, and you can name the price you feel people should pay for your music, I see people streaming any of my music on that site is just a way for them to hear my music.
Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Criminal Damage - Call Of Death (Feral Ward Records)
The Flatliners - Dead Language (Fat Wreck Chords)
The Copyrights - Shit's Fucked (It's Alive Records)
El-P & Killer Mike - Run The Jewels (Fool's Gold Records)
Off With Their Heads - Home (Epitaph Records)
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
It's kinda weird, but I really got into Hard Skin this year. For people who don't know them, they're like a joke Oi! band. They've been around forever and the thing is, their band is totally awesome and the songs are too fuckin' funny. 2013 was kinda dark for me, I got fucked up in a bike wreck and I also got robbed at gunpoint, so maybe I was in need of some mirth with my music?
Red Scare also puts on a lot of shows in Chicago and I get to see a buncha new bands that come through. I really enjoyed All Dogs, and I know everyone is falling all over themselves praising female-fronted indie-punk right now, but that band stood out for me.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I think it was pretty good for the label and the bands. 2012 was our best year yet and we kept things moving forward in 2013 with new records from Direct Hit! and Elway. We also did a "label package" tour that was 5 weeks long. Hard work, but it was super fun to press a tour 7" and make a cool poster. I reckon everyone involved and attending had a good time.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
Red Scare will probably be doing new records with The Copyrights, The Holy Mess, and The Brokedowns. Our biggest project will be *fingers crossed* a 10-year anniversary comp of Red Scare bands. There's bands that are broken up that are getting back together to do songs, so that's super cool for me. I'm trying to get a 7" out of our British friend Sam Russo. At the bar, Brendan was saying he wants to do some more Falcon and Wandering Birds, so that would obviously be super cool. That's some of my favorite stuff to work on.
We'll also finally have vinyl for the Direct Hit! and Nothington stuff we put out last year. LPs take forever to press, but that should finally happen in January. Now that we have a new distro a lot of our vinyl stuff will be back in stock and on sale, and with a little luck we'll actually get paid for it too!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
It'll be interesting to see if we can pull of this 10-year anniversary comp and show. It requires bands to be on their shit and bands can sometime be...not so on their shit? I am looking forward to see what happens with The Lawrence Arms now that they've gotten a second wind and have a new record on the way. I tour manage them and we've been buds for a long time, so it's exciting to see renewed interest in what my friends are doing. New Menzingers record should be pretty cool and different.
But you never know what will be the most compelling thing until it hits you, ya know? The best stuff is the stuff that surprises you, and I welcome all surprises in 2014!
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
One thing that bums me out about Spotify is that the big labels colluded right away to make sure they had an ownership stake and had better rates than the rest of us. That was the one key demand that the big boys had when it came to working with Spotify in the USA: they wanted a bigger, better cut. Now, as someone who has been in the biz and working in the underground the entire time, none of this bullshit comes as a surprise to me, but it's just kinda depressing that even in the digital age major labels are still strongarming other creative entities. When will it chaaaaange?!? Answer: never. But whatever, Spotify seems fine and all the industry folks say it's a welcome revenue stream. I've seen some labels only make one song per album available on the streaming service, and I find that kind of interesting. Maybe it works to serve the purpose of having something readily available to stream, but at the same time, people would still have to buy it through iTunes if they really wanted it, which is better for the band and label.
I rarely use Spoitify, but I consumed music in a lot of different ways this year. I pulled some long drives, so I ended up buying some CDs to play in the moving truck. It was great to have the artwork then be able to upload the songs to my phone/mp3 player later. There was the occasional vinyl purchase, and of course I bought some downloads. Too much discussion revolves around format; what matters most is the content and the music and the message. See, that's because I was around in the '80s, so I don't care about your cassette revival and how cool you may think it is.
Wells Tipley (86'd Records/ Solid Mfg.)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Boilerman - Loss Leaders LP
Unfun - Shores of Lake Erie DL
Iron Chic - The Constant One LP
Libyans - Expired Language LP
Slatwall - Farewell Songs DL
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I traded a bunch of records with a label called At War With False Noise from the U.K. earlier in the year. I got turned on to stuff like Resonaut, Seppuku, Necrocum, Satan’s Satyrs, and The Guilt Of. I think it’s neat to hear a band in the context of the other stuff a label is putting out.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
Iron Chic doing a session for the BBC really blew my mind. It was fun to keep my parents posted on their progress all year. My dad used to work with Lubrano at a pizzeria around here.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
My big project for this year is going to be digitally re-releasing a bunch stuff from my old record label as free downloads. From 1995 till 2003 I did a label called Traffic Violation Records that released mostly Long Island punk and hardcore stuff. I’m going to try and get as many releases up as possible. I’ve got permission for a few releases already. I’m working on finding all the masters or ripping the vinyl. I have high-resolution scans of all the packaging for most of the releases. I’ve been putting the site together at http://traffic.violat.io/n using limitedrun.com. Another part of the project is getting in touch with all the bands and seeing which ones are cool with Creative Commons licenses on their stuff. I want to get it as much of it in the commons as possible.
Over at Solid Mfg. we’re brokering manufacturing for vinyl, CDs, and band merch - in addition to our existing print business. It’s all up and running, but we’re going to spend 2014 improving the website to make getting quotes, ordering, and keeping track of stuff easier. We’re also working on a new logo that’ll include a little robot mascot.
86’d is going to be relatively quiet. The only thing I have planned is a singles collection CD for Sick Sick Birds which will come out in Japan in cooperation with Waterslide Records. We’ll also have a small amount available in the US. I’m hoping that will turn into to a semi-regular series of American bands releasing singles collections for Japan through 86’d and Waterslide.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Go White Bronco, Tenement, and Unfun.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I’ve never used Spotify. I was using Last.fm for a while but not really for streaming, more for keeping track of what I was playing from my hard drive. I don’t have any of the 86’d going through digital distribution, so as far as I know we don’t show up on those sites.
Will Butler (To Live a Lie Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
Impulse - Chula Violence 7"
The Abused - Loud and Clear LP
Fistula - Northern Aggression LP
Archagathus / Nak'ay - split 10"
Bastard Noise/Lack Of Interest - split LP
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I'm going to sound like a poser on this one but I had never heard the early Rudimentary Peni EPs. Some of the craziest, fastest, and well-written songs for that time and holds its power now. I've known about the Neos and Electro Hippies as early fast bands, but the 1981 s/t EP by RP is the perfect amount of pissed and snotty and the songs are super memorable.
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
2013 is another year I didn't go crazy putting out too many records. I tried to take a bit of a break from releasing records at my 100th record in 2013 but that wasn't much of a break. I put out two local bands' LPs in 2013 so this was a great year to showcase what Raleigh, NC has for everyone and it really feels good to support great local music.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
TLAL Volume II LP will be dropping early 2014 finally, featuring songs from bands such as Vaccine, Low Threat Profile, and Weekend Nachos. I just announced what will be coming out this year:
TLAL101 – Cave State – Self Titled 7"
TLAL102 – Fistula – Vermin Prolificus LP
TLAL103 – Rabid Pigs – Spoiled Heat LP
TLAL104 – Water Torture – TBA LP
TLAL105 – Sidetracked – Hired Gun LP
TLAL106 – Impulse – TBA 7"
Represses for 2014:
TLAL57 – Sidetracked – Uniform 7"
TLAL64 – ACxDC – He Had It Coming/Second Coming gatefold 2×7" (pink vinyl)
TLAL64 – ACxDC – Second Coming 7" (green vinyl)
TLAL66 – Curmudgeon – s/t 7" (gray vinyl)
TLAL92 – ACxDC / Sex Prisoner / Magnum Force – split 10" (updating packaging, ?? color vinyl)
Pretty packed year at the HQ but won't be taking on more projects. Also on January 12th I'm doing a low key fest in Raleigh with Assholeparade, Sex Prisoner, Abuse., and Genocide Pact.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
I'll keep my eyes peeled for whatever Deep Six, Six Weeks, and Diseased Audio crank out in 2014.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
I'm all for it... stream everything. Spotify doesn't pay well, and if you have a problem with that... then don't use it. I have bought a few albums from bands I've heard on Pandora so there is some unseen money generated from these services by getting bands out there. I'm all for streaming music and having it out there, because in the DIY punk underground file sharing and streaming is akin to tape dubbing/trading of long ago. Get it out there, music for the people who want to hear it! I don't think of my label as a business, I look out for the bands I deal with as much as I can, put I'm also their number one fan and I want people to hear them and love them and get their releases if they are so inclined.
Series: Year End 2013
It's the end of 2013, so here's our best-of roundup for the last twelve months.
You've seen our best albums of 2013; you've heard what artists think of the last twelve months. Now it's over to our writers to assemble their other top items of 2013: hip-hop, metal, live shows, indie EPs, goth records and more, just like every year. Click below to browse our …
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Another year, another year-end roundup from SPB. This is the tenth year of our existence and it's perhaps fitting that the album we've voted the best of 2013 is by a band which holds lots of significance for SPB. But no spoilers! Read on to see the list of the …
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Pass the Mic is a Scene Point Blank tradition dating back to 2006 in which we turn the tables, sending a set of questions to bands, artists, and labels to get their opinions and memories of the past year in music. This year we've broken it into two pieces. Instead …
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Hey folks, Toby here, and the SPB team asked me to provide some insights about some stuff from our catalog now that Red Scare is (you gotta be shittin’ me?!) twenty years old. Specifically a “memory or modern take” on some past releases, and they picked some doozies, so let’s …
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How do you sum up a 3-day weekend where you’ve spent approximately 36 hours watching live music and seen nearly 50 bands -- and also missed another 300? The Fest is a wonderful beast where you venue hop to catch up-and-comers, watch headliners outside on the big stage, and stumble …
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We've rolled out an extra-special feature for this year's Fest: that's right, it's FEST LIBS. You've played it before, but not like this – fill in our interactive form here, then sit back and read your customised FEST LIBS. The results may surprise you. But before you go generate your …
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