We here at Tone Deaf love nothing more than reporting on everything that is music, however sometimes there might be a little bit too much focus on just the artists, and the myriad of work that goes on behind closed doors is forgotten. Therefore, each fortnight we will now focus on important sectors within the industry, speaking with leaders in their field as they detail their role within the whacky world that is the music industry.
For this week’s industry-based column, we spoke with Kate Reid, the found of Melbourne based label IT Records. In its short lifespan, IT Records has released an impressive list of local efforts including Liam Kenny’s progressive covers album A Kenny For Your Thoughts, Little Desert’s ‘Ashes’ 7″, White Hex’s stunning sophomore effort, Miles Brown’s goth-dance singles and the re-issue of The Metronomes. We chatted to Kate about these killer releases, the semi-accidental birth of IT and her ambitions for the future. For more infor on IT Records visit IT Records’ Bandcamp and Facebook pages.
The Beginning
The birth of IT Records was “a pretty spur of the moment decision actually, and it all really stems from wanting to help Liam Kenny put out his A Kenny For Your Thoughts (AKFYT) record.
That Leonard Cohen cover (‘Avalanche’) was what really sealed the deal though. That thing is so bloody good you know? I had a painting studio in the warehouse where Liam and Jack Farley (Producer) lived and recorded that record and I basically got very excited about it. When they were having trouble finding a label to put it out, I said I would help and it started from there.”
First Ever Release
“From that crazy decision [Liam Kenny’s record release], things started moving pretty quickly I went from AKFYT to having five bands on the roster pretty much straight away.
First cab off the rank was Miles Brown’s (The Night Terrors) debut solo single ‘Electrics’ – a killer goth dance track which we had remixed by a whole heap of Melbourne electronic artists (Kangaroo Skull, Prolife, WORNG, Other Places, The Metronomes, Jake Blood, ASPS, Matthew Brown, Justin Fuller, Transient Threat and COMPLETE) A limited edition fluro yellow 7″ with a download EP of 14 tracks! Massive sold out launch at The Tote. Pretty awesome start for the label.”
Before IT Records
“My formal background is in the visual arts not music, that said there is a definite correlation between curating exhibitions and running a label. I do some djing and some radio with my best mate Jenny Branagan (Nun) as Psychedelic Coven. We put on shows and that kind of thing too.
I am a massive music nerd, huge record collection, always going to gigs. All my mates are musicians and I spend a LOT of mental energy and time researching and thinking about music. It’s good to have somewhere productive to channel that energy and really nice to have a proper role within ( beside punter – which is totally a proper role) and a way to contribute to, the scene I am a part of.”
Label Inspirations
“Hundreds. As I mentioned before I am a big old nerd. Finding labels run by people who have great taste is one of the best ways to find new music. The odds are pretty good that if you love one record from a label you will find other stuff you’ll love coming from the same label.
[include_post id=”407347″] To list all the labels I have become obsessed with over the years would make your readers fall asleep so… lets do a mini list… Vertigo Records (swirl of course), Brain records, Dandelion, Island, Nova/ Deram, Clear Light of Jupiter/ Cleopatra, M Squared, Elektra.
So those are all old ones of course I am really inspired by the labels in this town right now: Aarght, Bedroom Suck, Chapter, Mistletone, Special Award, Homeless etc. etc. I was inspired by Nihilistic Orbs. Shaun (South) really had a clear aesthetic vision with his label.
I was impressed with what a cohesive scene that label was and because I liked his aesthetic I liked everything he put out pretty much. There are so many more I could mention, I really like some of the amazing tape labels that are popping up right now, Heavy Chains out of Tassie are really cool and Trapdoor Tapes here in Melbourne… there is some really interesting stuff going on.”
Indie Label Community/ Who’s Doing An Ace Job
“Aah see I went into this one before… yes, yes, so many. I did my little indie list, maybe here I can do a proper shout out to Rich Stanley (Aarght Records ) who has to field inane questions from me on a weekly basis and who heads an absolute ripper of a record label with Per Bystrom (and now Helen Gross). A perfect example of balance and diversity circling a definite aesthetic with a range of different music. It’s not easy to do kids and to do it with out taking any of it too seriously? This is what I want to do, have a following who will give a record a go because it’s on IT, I reckon Aarght have that down. Anyway they are awesome and Rich has helped me out heaps.
I could honestly talk about good record labels for hours. Here is a quick list: Dual Planet, Finders Keepers, Penultimate Press, Dark Entries, Minimal Wave, Rise Above, RIP Society, The Roundtable, Arkarma, Mannequin, Felte, Sacred Bones, Hozac, Schema, No Not fun, No Patience , Avant!, Guerssen, ….ok that’s probably enough.”
Biggest Lesson Leant So Far…
“To be calm and not to get emotional about any of it. Things don’t go how you expect, there are delays and changed minds and mistakes and your really can’t let it get to you. You can’t be getting too stressed or upset about stuff on top of working so hard.”
Favourite IT Records Releases
“Well look,there haven’t been that many I am only just over 1 year old after all, I have only had five releases and they all blew me away… so lets run through the whole lot eh?
[include_post id=”411444″] I have told you about Miles Brown, next was Little Desert’s ‘Ashes’ 7” single; dirty heavy psych, wailing female vocals. A fierce band, so amazing live…. I love them to pieces. Then was the White Hex LP Gold Nights sublime sparkling dark wave. I love them to pieces too! That was a really exciting release, I worked on it with US label Felte and it got a lot of attention. It’s a really great record.
And of course finally getting A Kenny For Your Thoughts out was a very happy moment. I didn’t really go into it before but AKFYT is a wild record of cover versions by Liam Kenny (Bitch Prefect/ Peak Twins) in collaboration with Jack Farley (Producer – Beaches, Twerps, Scott & Charlene’s Wedding etc.) featuring lots of cool guests (Martin Frawley, Amy Hill, Joel Carey, Justin Fuller, Ela Stiles, Al Montfort, Pat Telfer, Amy Franz and Jack Mannix).”
The Importance Of Re-Issues
In rlation to the re-issue of The Metronomes LP “Yes I did a re-issue or rather a compilation in conjunction with NICE:NOISE which is a new re-issue label (Curated by Jenny and I with James Pianta of Dual Planet / The Roundtable) I hope to be working with again soon.
“Why are re-issues important? That’s harder to put into words than I thought it would be…there are a lot of reasons really but I think it’s about circulation and rediscovery. The world is full of astonishing music. 90% of which will never be played on commercial radio, shown on television or be found for sale at JB hifi. Most records are actually quite hard to find. Leather Jackets by Elton John is not hard to find but Here Come the Warm Jets by Brian Eno is, even though there are hundreds of thousands of copies of it out there probably.
It’s not really a very rare record but you can’t just wander into any record store and get it. So that’s a good example of a record that will sell easily as a re-issue and one good reason to do re-issues… to keep good records in circulation. Then to take a band like the Metronomes as the example. Here is a band who were criminally overlooked in their day. Their first two records are killer minimal synth masterpieces. They didn’t play live, their music was a bit left field and experimental perhaps and they were from Australia. So although they were well respected and well known in the scene here in Melbourne the audience for their music at the time was relatively small. Very small on a world scale.
It’s pretty hard to sell thousands of records here if you are not making the kind of music that gets on the big radio stations. So for a band like the Metronomes were are talking hundreds of copies maybe 1000 tops. Now, because they are fantastic and because their records are great, over the years they have grown to be very well respected all over the world.
People search out great music, write articles and blogs about it. Fame or infamy grows and next thing you know their records are selling for hundreds of dollars. The goal of this re-issue was two fold, one was to drag this music into the light and introduce it to a whole new generation of fans and the other was so that you could walk into a record store in Melbourne and buy a Metronomes record easily and for a reasonable price for the first time in decades. Mind you we have pretty much sold out of the record now (better get in quick) so this one is gonna get tough to get too.”
The Future Of Niche/ Indie Labels
“It’s tough to say, but I think the role is pretty set. All the things I have talked about here are part of the role of the indie label. The need for niche curators of different types of music is essential to the greater music industry. Champions of the unknown and obscure…I can’t see that changing.
But the label part? Making money? That’s tough stuff. Even the big guys are having a tough time with it. Making a record is expensive, especially when you are doing small runs. My creative brain doesn’t look toward technological things though, so I can’t really imagine where all of this is going. I don’t really see the physical artefact in music going away any time soon, but maybe it will. We’ll just have to adapt. You can help us out by buying our records.”
Tips For Those Wanting To Start Their Own Labels
“If you want to do it, do it. Maybe think about the reality of it a little more than I did, haha. Though sometimes (like this time) the fluid quick choices you make turn out for the best.
[include_post id=”434605″] I can tell you what I think made things work well for me. I was part of the scene the label was going to be part of, I knew the bands, I go to their gigs, I am friends with people who run labels and book shows, write reviews, make zines and do radio etc.
So get involved. Make friends, support bands, do stuff. This works if you are in a band to or want to be a Dj or do radio or whatever. Get involved with the people you want to work with and support the things they do. What else? Be prepared to work lots. The more you do, the more happens, it’s magic. Be careful of money but don’t get upset about it. Do try to spend as little as humanly possible though.”
What’s Planned For IT Records In 2015
“I am over the moon about what’s coming up in 2015. Miles Brown and Little Desert both have records coming out, so do the Metronomes – their first new album in decades! ( and it is soooo good). Then we have new IT Records family members to get excited about too. The first release this year will be a super limited edition album by Taipain Tiger Girls ( Matt Watson, Lisa Mckinney and Ollie Olsen) they are a instrumental psychedelic trio: synth, guitar and drums. They make long and beautiful walls of noise.
Then later in the year there will be a split 12″ between Vacuum (Jenny Baranagan – NUN and Adnrea Blake – ASPS, Chrome Dome) and COMPLETE (Brent Stegeman of Heirs) two of the most exciting dark electronic acts around at the moment. I might have a couple more things to announce in the coming weeks too! I am beyond excited about this year.”
Visit IT Records’ online store here www.itrecordsmelb.bandcamp.com.
