Michael Phillips (Escapist Records)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)
- Axis – Show Your Greed (Good Fight)
- 2 Failure – The Heart Is A Monster (Failure)
- 3 The Beautiful Ones – Jaded Love (6131)
- 4 Sweet Jesus – You Destroy Yourself (Atomic Action)
- 5 Adele – 25 (XL)
2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Sweet Jesus releasing their debut LP in 2015 was a pleasant surprise. It was a record that I didn’t know was happening and it was just a fresh sound to hear in the mix of all the other albums that came out.
3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)
Escapist celebrated 10 years as a label in 2015. It was exciting to look back at the past ten years and what was accomplished, but also celebrate what the label is currently doing. I got to throw a label showcase and having label bands from all over come together to play and hang out together was such a rewarding and humbling experience.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?
2016 will likely be a slower year for Escapist as a label. There is only one new release that we have on the books. There is one reissue that I would like to pursue for a release as well, so maybe that will happen as well.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?
Withdrawal’s full-length LP.
6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?
Physical formats are still extremely relevant and will continue to be as we go forward even if the digital world is all about convenience. There will always be a market of fans that will support the bands and labels they like by purchasing the physical goods. If you partner a digital option with the physical goods, it just makes it more appealing and makes the discussion essentially a non-issue.
