Today's
guest has been a good friend to Sludgelord recently. His record label
has provided stunning releases from Last Minute To Jaffna, Deaf Eyes,
Witch Charmer, Beneath The Storm, Bantoriak, MAGI and Kayleth. Plus
he's releasing future albums by one of my fave Italian Sludge Metal
Overlords – NIBIRU.
The
label I'm talking about is Argonauta Records who have had a stunning
year releasing awesome albums by bands that have been acclaimed all
over the world. The genius behind this label is Gero. A person who is
passionate about music in general and the bands he signs to his great
label.
I
wanted to return the favour and get an interview with the great man
as Gero is doing a killer job releasing great records and promoting
some fantastic bands that I wouldn't of heard of. Bantoriak, Deaf
Eyes and Kayleth being cases in point.
So
lets get started with Gero.
Hi
Gero. How's it going. Thanks for doing this interview. Much
appreciated.
Thanks
Steve! I’m following The Sludgelord since the beginning, today I
can say it’s a dream comes true having this interview with you.
Can
you tell our readers how Argonauta Records started and why you
started the label.
Argonauta
Records started as idea in 2009. I met up with a bunch of old friends
after many many years. Immediately it was clear to all of us to start
again a band we are involved in during the end of the ‘90ies. I
decided this time that if we ever arrived to release any album, we
should have a proper promotion and dedicated channels to make it
available around. I can say the label almost started as a joke when
in 2012 we printed our first album.
Immediately
we got in touch with many bands, magazines and so, looking for
collaboration. That moment is when I took the decision that Argonauta
would have been not only a label for my band, but something more for
other interesting entities. In almost one year I was able to care all
the first details to officially start by the end of 2013 as a full
time working label.
Why
did you choose the name Argonauta Records. Any specific meaning.
Unless you're a huge Jason And The Argonauts fan.
Of
course I’m a huge fan of Jason and the Argonauts as well of each
movie and creature born by the mind of Ray Harryhausen. Also I’m
fond on Greek Mythology, where Argonauts came from. Not to mention
also “Argonauta” is the scientific name of a kind of Octopus, so
something related to the Lovecraftian world, which I’m confident
with since I was very young.
Was
it a hard experience setting up the record label. Looking back would
you do anything differently.
It’s
a hard experience, yes, especially because running a label is not a
job like others. Had to do many considerations with the family as you
have to be ready to give up to some certainties you are usually
accustomed to. It’s not easy, but I did a pact with myself, to
dedicate 100% to this new adventure with a primary concept: to NOT
procrastinate anything anymore. I have now complete control of my
life and business, working with the bands I love, spending my time
the way I decide. To have done something different? Only a regret, I
should have started this job years ago, I waited too much, ah ah!
You
mainly focus on the Doom/Sludge/Stoner/Drone/Post-Metal scene. Would
you release something from another genre such as Grindcore, Black
Metal.
I
think I can be defined a music enthusiast, I do listen everything I
found interesting, no matter the kind of music, the name of the band
and so. But with my label I prefer to concentrate my time on my first
love in music. Doom, Stoner, Post Metal and related. It is where I
came from, so I can care all the details at best as I can.
Do
you have a set of rules and ideals that you stick to when signing a
band. Are there things that would make you not sign a band to your
label.
You
have to know I have many interests in my life. One of these is the
world of Super-heroes. You know, Spider-Man, Captain America, ...
Music does not need super heroes. I like hard work, humility and at
the same time having fun all together, with the unique purpose to
make a good job for the label and our bands.
The
thing I like about your label is even though your main focus is on
the Italian music scene you still release albums by other great bands
and artists around the world. How do you find all these artists. Do
they submit material to you or do you find them browsing the internet
and social media.
Yes,
being an Italian label, it helps me to “give voice” to many
interesting bands we have here, which is a cool thing indeed. At the
same time the thing I love more is to discover by myself the talents
across the world, I listen tons of music on daily basis and many
Argonauta bands were contacted by me as first step. Also, I receive
messages with YouTube links, demo and so by other people interested
to collaborate with me. It is all very cool, I love to listen to
everything I receive, to know new trends, different approaches.
Actually I can say our bands are 50% discovered or contacted by me
and 50% from submissions.
We
have to talk about the Italian Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. It's
very highly thought of through out the world thanks to awesome bands
such as Ufomammut, Zippo, ISAAK, Doomraiser and a ton more that I may
of forgotten to mention. What is the scene actually like in Italy. Is
the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene on the rise in Italy. Or is it
still firmly in the underground.
I
personally know or am in touch with many Italian bands of the
so-called “scene”. For this reason I hope to choose my words
correctly, in English, to explain my standpoint, which is a POSITIVE
opinion towards them: I see tons of interesting Italian bands working
hard to make their music available... outside of Italy!
It
happens because Italy could be a very weird and difficult country.
Think for example of the difficulties to arrange a mini-tour in our
towns. It could be so hard that the only result you get is to
split-up the band. Of course there are also positive things, there is
a lot of audience and dedicated people, but all seems to be still in
the world of insiders only.
I
want to thank you for sending some awesome albums my way and
including some of my reviews on the advertising with Nibiru
especially. That means a lot. So thank you. How helpful has the
Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal community been in promoting your work as
your label is highly thought of.
I’ve
to say it is a great thing, not expected at all this attention our
releases receive across the board. Considering also we’re a very
young label with still a lot to do day by day. And the
Sludge/Doom/Stoner community help us to grow up and to search for
better results in each moment. This is the main reason I sent around
our releases, I love to get feedbacks, with reviews and so, and also
talking privately when possible.
You
currently focus on releasing products on CD/DD only. Are there any
plans to release any of your albums on Vinyl in the future. Or is
that too expensive to do at the moment.
You
have to know I’m a huge fan of vinyls. But it is too expensive to
do at the moment, and being a very young label I need to be very
careful with each step I do, not affording the loss of resources and
time. We already did our first vinyl the past year, with a great
Swedish band, KOLOSS. Now, though the main format will be the CD
version, we are working to have more vinyls in the future.
How
hard is it for an independent record label like Argonauta Records to
operate in today's markets. Especially with the download culture
still sadly going on around us. Can it be an uphill struggle or do
the positives outweigh the negatives.
The
main problem is to see how people think it’s easy to get everything
they need, stream, download and so. Everything is available
everywhere. I remember when I was a kid, the great thing of being a
music fan, is to search for your fave artists in the worst music
shops around the world, haha! It made you think to have something
special for your own or to share with your friends. Now it is totally
different, but I understand progress IS progress, no problems.
“Download” is not a problem on its own, the focal point is to
make people conscious behind a record there is usually a lot of work,
not only by the band.
Now
a few people may not know but your a guitarist in Italian
Sludge/Post-Metal Band – Varego. Which is a fantastic band in it's
own right. How did you become involved with Varego. And what's the
current status with the band.
Ahah,
thanks for this question! Yes, I’m also a Varego guitarist. We are
a band of very old friends. Accidentally, we met after so many years
in 2009 and said “Hey, what about to resume the band?”. By the
end of the ‘90ies we were a sort of grunge/stoner band. Just the
time to find a rehearsal room, to keep again alive our instruments
and then in a few months we were able to track down around ten songs.
I
contacted legendary Billy Anderson asking him if he could be
interested to work with us and so it happened! We were totally
stoked, and decided to work with him also with our second work
released in 2013, also featuring another legend of contemporary
music, Jarboe, singing lyrics written by me on music of my band. I
still can not believe it while I’m telling you, haha! Actually we
are working on our new songs, we are not a very fast band I’ve to
say, but we are on it. Maybe we will do a single release soon, to
anticipate the forthcoming album. Let’s see.
Do
you find it hard to be apart of the band whilst still running
Argonauta Records. Though I've heard a rumour you will be releasing
the new Varego album on your label in the future. Can you confirm or
deny that rumour. HA HA
Yes,
haha, I’ll surely release the new stuff on Argonauta, haha! And
it’s not hard to be a part of the band. I just care both things at
best I can do.
When
you started the label did you receive any help from friends telling
you what you should do or shouldn't do.
Once
an old friend of mine had for me some special words: “In this crazy
world, if someone still have to open a record label, this someone is
you”. I’m lucky to have friends like this. And I’ve many of
them I can speak of my work with. And today too, I’ve closed
friends helping me on different aspects, and I’d like to take this
opportunity to thank a bunch of them, Gabriele (INFECTION CODE singer
and my right-hand man), Barbara (running Argonauta Press Office) and
Marco (of SHABDA and THEE MALDOROR KOLLECTIVE, doing many of our
graphic work such as covers, posters or t-shirts).
There
are a ton of great labels doing some major things within the scene
such as STB Records, Ripple Music, Riding Easy Records, Pink Tank
Records and Magnetic Eye Records. Have you had any contact with those
labels. Are you a fan of their work. Or do you focus on your own
thing.
I
know all those labels, though I’ve been not in touch with them
directly. I really love albums by Monolord or Summoner, just to name
a few. So I can say I’m a fan of all their work and their attitude.
I’ve planned to be in touch with them in the next future, unless
they read this interview and think “Another crazy guy to take care
of, no way!” haha!
This
is going to be a hard question to answer. But which artist and band
has been your favourite to work with so far. Or the favourite you've
signed to your label. (You've already signed my fave Italian band –
Nibiru – to your label. And their new album is fucking incredible.
Damn. What a head trip. Review due soon).
I
was quite sure you would have good feelings with the new NIBIRU,
indeed a head trip! I’ve no favourite artists in the label, just
because I carefully choose the bands to work with. Each artist I’m
in touch with has his own methods to approach music and related
things. This is the most interesting and thrilling aspect of this
job, from my standpoint. I learn a lot by all of them, I want to
learn and I’m pleased to do it.
What
are future plans for the label. I know you have Denizen, Tovarish and
NIBIRU albums being released soon. Can you tell us anymore future
releases to look out for.
While
answering this interview, I’m also taking care of Bantoriak
preorders, shipping in few days. Denizen are now on the way. May will
be the month of Tovarish and Nibiru, yes. Actually I’m working hard
on final details for ARGONAUTA FEST, this is the first official fest
of the label, a party with some bands of the family we hope it can be
an annual event.
Then
this year we’ll have highly anticipated new albums by SHABDA,
BENEATH THE STORM and FROM OCEANS TO AUTUMN. While working on the
reissue of “Ashes” by SUMA and on the album by LOWBURN from
Finland, a really crushing stoner band managed by Battlelore members.
And something more!
If
you could provide any helpful information or advice to someone
wanting to start their own record label. What would it be.
If
this
is
your
deep
conviction,
put all
of yourself
and
do
not
give
up
if
the
first results
will
not be good.
Find
your
way
to
perform
the
various
aspects
of the work
and
stick
always
to
your
guidelines.
Well
Gero, Thanks for doing this. Really appreciate this. Keep up the
excellent work with your label.
Thanks
a ton to you Steve, to the Sludgelord crew and to your readers! It’s
a pleasure to speak and explain more aspects of the label with people
interested in our bands. Cheers!
I
want to thank Gero for doing this interview. A great person who is
running a fantastic label and promoting amazing bands for us to
enjoy.
Words
by Steve Howe and Gero Argonauta
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