Pharaoh
SPB: To what extent does ritual/tradition/mythology play a part in Pharaoh's music?
Pharaoh: We met and grew up for the most part in Catholic schools together. Every day as kids we prayed with everyone else before class, got dragged to church, sang the songs. Drinking blood and eating flesh between math and study hall. They don't try to hide that they're indoctrinating you at that age, they tell you, “We are indoctrinating you according to your parents' wishes,'" and you pretty much go along with that until you graduate or are expelled. So mythology and ritual has been our every day.
Erin Page (Kill Hatsumomo)
SPB: Is there a specific poster that got you interested in the medium yourself?
Erin: What initially led me to making posters was the DIY cut and paste flier and zine movement of the mid ‘90s music scene of Peoria, Illinois -- where I grew up. After I moved to Chicago, a poster by Kathleen Judge for Low Skies was in the window of Reckless Records and I asked to have it. That's when I decided to scrape together all the money my very broke artist self had and join a co-op.
I'm now a successful poster artist and illustrator. I've been featured in magazines, books and a documentary. I've had my work in galleries in the US and abroad and I've had the opportunity to work for many amazing bands, companies and individuals doing posters, t-shirt design, labels, logos, album art, etc. I run my own studio and I do my own work as well as publish others. I've been printing as an accredited professional for 7 years thanks to some photocopied pieces of paper I saw in high school.
Dr. Strange (Dr. Strange Records)
SPB: How has Record Store Day changed your business?
Dr. Strange: The truth is I didn’t even participate until the third one. I thought to myself “now this sounds like a gimmick” and I wanted nothing to do with it. But so many of my customers asked me to do it I decided to try. I’m glad I did. Record Store Day has been the busiest day, not only of the year, but of our history [since 1988] each and every time. Plus it’s great to see so many people in the store all with a love of vinyl!
Stephen (Urban Scandal Records)
SPB: How do you typically find the bands you sign to the label?
Stephen: I would say I generally find bands that I want to work with through word of mouth. Friends of friends of friends sort of situations. Not all releases have come about that way, but I've found that a business partnership runs much more smoothly when musicians in bands and people at a label are coming from a similar scene or mindset. It allows for more trust and open communication while working together.
