You Talkin To Me!!! - An Interview with Sara Twinn (Co-Owner of Taxi Driver Records)

Today's guest is a virtuoso within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. Saxophonist, Vocalist, Artist and Record Label and Record Store owner. She's becoming one of the best known sources of promoting Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal from the Italian Music Scene.

She's co-owner of the fantastic record label – Taxi Driver Records – who've provided me with some awesome albums and EP's to review recently. She's part of Italian Atmospheric Doom Metal Instrumentalists – MOPE – who released a stunning debut album back in 2014 which we rated quite highly.

I'm of course referring to Sara Twinn. A hugely talented individual who I wanted to interview for a while. And Sara has kindly agreed to answer my questions.

Let's see what Sara has to say to us at Sludgelord HQ.

Hi Sara. How's it going. Thanks for doing this interview. Much appreciated.

Hi Steve! Hi readers! I really hope you'll enjoy the interview!

I don't know where to begin with this interview as you've had quite a musical career so far. Well I think we should start with Taxi Driver Records. What a fantastic label that is. When did you start Taxi Driver Records and what were your reasons for starting the label. Plus I just recently found out it's actually a record store as well. Awesome.

Thank you! Taxi Driver Records started in 2009 with the aim of documenting and promoting the local underground music scene. Here in Genova, Italy, where I live and my independent record store is located, we have great bands that deserve to be discovered! Recently the label opened also to other awesome underground bands within the Italian territory, and I like the idea very much! It's cool and certainly helpful to put in connection different artists and underground music scenes.

Was it hard experience starting the label and opening a record store. Would you do anything differently if you could.

I run both record store and label with my partner Massimo (ISAAK's bass player). Opening the two activities was hard, and it still is, but so gratifying! A risk indeed, expecially because we decided to start it in the worst period referring to the global economic crisis, and yes, there are things I would do differently from the beginning if I could go back in time. Anyway we both love our job and we strongly hope and believe that the passion we put in it every day will keep giving increasing results!

What came first. The Record Store or The Record Label. And was it a hard transition to go from record label to record store or record store to record label.

The independent record store came first. The idea grew up in a couple of months in late 2008. Massimo was working as usual on his music webmagazine www.taxi-driver.it he founded in year 2000, and after I graduated I actually realized I really wanted to live and independent life very close to the music scene I was starting to be involved into. The decision came immediately after we both went to the ATP festival curated by The Melvins and Mike Patton in UK that December: three full days of concerts living in the same resort together with the artists, awesome lineup (Fantomas, Melvins, Mastodon, Isis, Torche, Bohren Und The Club Of Gore, Big Business, Porn, Butthole Surfers, Meat Puppets, Joe Lally, Zu.. just to name a few!). 

I definitively felt this had to be my world, and thanks to Massimo's competence and ability we soon opened Taxi Driver Record Store, in 2009. The label came very naturally a few months after, when a local band called Cartavetro asked us to co-produce their first EP titled “We Need Time”, featuring Mike Watt on vocals in one track. So exciting to start this adventure with one of the greatest “do it yourself” icon ever!

Focusing on the Record Store side of things. How hard is it operating a record store in today's environment. Do you find it a hard challenge at times.

Very hard. Daily challenge. But being focused and specialized on particular genres (stoner, doom, heavy psych, metal, post metal, drone, ambient, hardcore, punk, alternative.. above all) and related independent labels helps a lot. We're always in contact with a nice community of this kind of music lovers, not only locals: Italian and foreign people, and also some tourists who come and visit the amazing Genoese historical centre where the record store is located. Our catalogue is appreciated online too (www.taxidriverstore.com), vinyl records expecially. With the store, the label and also an independent lab where I screenprint our merch, and thanks to the social networks, we promote Taxi Driver as much as we can every day.

And when you host for example Nick Oliveri for an unplanned acoustic miniset (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8tngkYqmv8) or when one of the greatest poster artists worldwide, Chuck Sperry, comes twice for an expo and a workshop (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoahheEIPBc), or when you meet your personal idols at gigs and they really enjoy the albums you have, and so on, you really forget about all your daily efforts and feel how lucky you are!

Do you have a set or rules and ideals when signing to a band to your label. Or wanting to work with bands and artists.

We promote the bands we like and that are related to our world. As you can understand, Taxi Driver is a kind of expanded concept and we actually prefer to have a feeling with the artists we work with. Within the label, Massimo decides the bands and I'm the one who takes care of packaging and format and schedules the releases.

Why did you choose the name Taxi Driver Records. Any particular reason for this.

“Taxi Driver” is referred to 1976 Martin Scorsese's masterpiece, a movie that means very much to Massimo. This is why he gave this name to his webmagazine, and we thought the record store and the label should be called the same.

Taxi Driver Records (Label) only releases music by Italian bands and artists. Would you ever release an album or record by a band from a different country or is primarily focusing on the Italian music scene.

We're now documenting part of the the cool Italian underground scene, focused on the Genoese area (where we live) and expanded to other great Italian bands whose attitude and music we like so much. This doesn't mean that I exclude to release bands from a different country in the future, but they'll have to be connected in some way with Taxi Driver.

Right. Enough about the label. Time to move onto your musical career. People may know you from MOPE and you've done work with FOLAGRA and Eremite. How did you become involved with music. When did your musical journey start.

I actually started when I was very young, studying classical and jazzy music on piano. Beautiful, but I always felt it not properly mine. When I started going to gigs, and met friends rocking around, I preferred to stop playing for a while and going to listen to their music: live shows but also rehearsals. That was my first approach to the underground scene. Anyway, the first time I ever saw a saxophone live matching heavy sonorities was with Zu, I think it was ten years ago. I was shocked, I went backwards in their discography, then more backwards discovering John Zorn and other avant-garde and multi-instrumentalist composers. I was too curious: when I had the opportunity I bought a very old saxophone and started to playing it alone. Going to live shows helps meeting a lot of musicians and new friends with same music interests: this is how I met my mates.

You play Saxophones on MOPE. WOW. When I heard MOPE's debut album. That was one of my fave parts. The Saxophones as you don't really hear Doom Metal bands especially with Saxophones on the album. Did you purposely try to be different to other bands.

Yes indeed. Even if saxophone is sometimes used in experimental, avant-garde metal or jazzcore music genres, in our band we loved the idea to combine heavy riffs with floating melodies and evocative atmospheres of a reverberate sax instead of vocals and we didn't know other doom bands doing it. I have to say that arrangements are not easy at all.. it took a while before we were all convinced to release the first album.. and we're still studying (in a very doomish attitude!) the right formula for the new one.

How did MOPE start. And will there be any future records from MOPE.

I was playing saxophone at home in that period. Once I went to visit my new friends Jessica (guitar) and Fabio (drums) rehearsing, and I don't really remember how we started to talk about introducing saxophone in the project but the week after I started to play with them. Stefano (bass) who once came to hear us, joined the band in a very natural way. Fabio and Stefano used to play music together since they were young, and in that period Fabio was starting also his blackened sludge project Eremite, and Stefano was still involved with his heavy shoegaze post-rock band Vanessa Van Basten. We really enjoyed the music we were composing together, so we recorded it in 2013 and gave birth to our first album in early 2014. 

We had an awesome year, our music had been much appreciated worldwide and we played live in not many but cool events. And even if now our guitarist is quite busy with her artistic lab (she's a painter, engraver and screenprinter) and the other members are differently involved in side projects, MOPE are working on new stuff!

Are you involved with any other bands currently at the moment.

I like collaborations: live, or recording saxophone lines in some tracks of other artist's records, as I did in the first Eremite's album. I also started to play a MS-20 Korg synthesizer. I actually used it while playing with Morgengruss, which is a new spiritual folk/drone solo project led by Marco Paddeu (from Demetra Sine Die, dark post metal local band) I found very interesting: I put some sax in his upcoming first album and supported him live with synth and saxophone.

Playing synth is actually amazing and gives me the opportunity to experimenting a lot, as I did for example a few months ago in an extemporary drone/industrial project for a live show. And Folagra duo (with Massimo) is still an open project, for when we're not busy with our respective bands.

Let's see what happens in the future!

You've also done some artwork in the past for other bands. Gandhi's Gunn (now known as ISAAK) according to Metal Encyclopedia. Are you still involved with artwork or are you too busy with other things at the moment.

I'm actually not an illustrator, but I curated layouts for album covers, expecially for some Taxi Driver Records releases. The one Metal Encyclopedia refers to is probably the cassette version of both Gandhi's Gunn albums Thirtyeahs and The Longer The Beard The Harder The Sound. They were both very limited editions which went sold out very soon, and me and Jessica (Mope's guitarist) curated the handmade printed artwork (chalcographic and screenprinting techniques). It was the first period of an amazing collaboration between me and her, studying and putting together our own abilities, focused on album covers. 

We started with limited edition cassettes, and during the years we curated the artwork of many Taxi Driver Records albums from Jessica's illustrations: starting from Mope and Eremite, to L'Inverno Della Civetta project and both Vanessa Van Basten's “Disintegration EP” different covers. But also the LP screenprinted cover we did for Goblin's “Amo Non Amo” soundtrack reissue, for another label, was great fun! So interesting! I really hope this collaboration will keep on through the years. And I'm also proud about our Gandhi's Gunn: a few months after the release of their second full-length, they signed for Small Stone Records, changing name, as you said, into Isaak!

In some ways I am always indirectly involved with artwork, from album covers to screenprinted merchandise for our bands or for the record store. And I really enjoy it, looking forward to creating my own artwork too.

Photo by Serena Bodratto

How do you find the time to do this all. Band Member, Record Store Owner. Record Label Owner amongst other things. Does this intrude on your personal life. How do you relax away from it all. Or is this how you relax. 

I try not to sleep! And yes, it 100% involves my personal life. And it is obviously not easy to work and live with your partner, sometimes private life and job are all mixed up creating tensions as you can imagine. Being strong is not that easy, but I really do it because I truly believe in it. And I like to think that if I'm a bit chained in it now, it's because I'm actually working for my freedom, away from the rest of the oppressive world. Anyway when I really need a break and I don't have much time, I relax escaping on the hills just behind Genova: you can enjoy nature and beautiful landscapes of the sea surrounded by mountains. A place where all problems and thoughts seem so far away and little!

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, MOPE, Satori Junk, Bantoriak and NIBIRU 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.

We have awesome underground bands, you're right! It's still hard for them to rise and be more acclaimed in Italy because here I think we still have huge cultural problems from that point of view.. which is weird! But Italian underground music scene still has less followers than it deserves here in our country.. even if the community is actually increasing I have to say. The attitude abroad is completely different, and curiosity, attention and music competence are still much higher than here... Hard work, but one of my goals is to contribute as much as possible in spreading the word. Not only with my label's records I mean. My way to do it, that I learnt from my partner Massimo's attitude, is promoting what's going on here, which is really cool, with Taxi Driver and records from other independent labels and by importing in the record store what's awesome from abroad.

If you could provide any advice to someone wanting to open a record store or create a record label. What would it be and why.

Do it only if you intend it as a way of living. It could actually ruin your life if you're not well motivated and completely in love with it. And please, sell good music!

What future plans are in store for yourself and Taxi Driver Records. Any gossip you can share with us about future releases. 

We just experienced our first sold out with Psychedelic Witchcraft's “Black Magic Man” 10inch EP in the bicolored version limited to 100 copies, that will be out at the end of July and whose preorder online was announced only a few weeks ago. I actually think that album is amazing, and I'm so proud of this first result! We've also just released a free sampler compilation titled “Taxi Driver 100” with tracks from our recent releases, outtakes and a few previews.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming doom/sludge Sator and Kröwnn's limited edition vinyl records, already available in preorder on our webstore and bandcamp, that will be out in more or less a month! Then, next on Taxi Driver Records will be Morgengruss full length and Fabio Cuomo's (Eremite and Mope drummer) amazing kraut/ambient solo project.

Those albums and the vinyl version of Vanessa Van Basten's masterpiece “La Stanza Di Swedenborg” will be out in Fall. But before all this we're very busy in organizing the first Taxi Driver Summer Fest, which will take place on Saturday the 18th July in Genova. We're so excited to have Elder and Mos Generator as headliners, and we will also have stands and showcases of some of our bands.. can't wait for it! After that, I think I will need to concentrate a bit on my next projects. We'll see what happens!

Well Sara thanks for doing this. Before you go, do you have anything to say to your fans.

Thank you so much Steve for this interview, and for supporting me. This means a lot. And thanks so much to everyone who keeps following Taxi Driver, buying from the store, the label, who will discover it after this interview or in the future, and who's supporting my projects! You're so important!

Thanks for doing this Sara. Really appreciate this. Keep up the brilliant work that you do.

I want to thank Sara for taking the time out to talk to us here at Sludgelord HQ. Visit Taxi Driver Records as they're a brilliant label doing a fantastic job.

Words by Steve Howe and Sara Twinn

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Label Intensive: An Examination of Poisoned Mind Records

Poisoned Mind is a specialist DIY label based out of New Jersey and Connecticut, born and bred by self confessed analog addicts and VHS aficionados; Tom and Mike set forth with a mission to turn their obsession for music and trashy 80’s horror VHS, into a limited pressing vinyl only entrepreneurial venture. In many ways the combination of horror and the stoner rock scene go hand in hand, with imagery of psychedelia, tales of black magic, and the occult featuring prominently in numerous low budget movies, but also in the imagery and lyrics of well known stoner bands too, with sound bites of movie featuring heavily in music by Electric Wizard, and inspiring lyrics to numerous others. 

Having two vinyl releases behind them, a debut 7inch pressing for the soundtrack to Chester N. Turner’s BLACK DEVIL DOLL FROM HELL, a revered 1980’s horror movie in which a kindly woman is raped by a ventriloquist’s dummy. Poisoned Mind, followed that up with a debut 12inch limited vinyl pressing from Crypt Trip, a band hailing from Dallas Texas, who play an addictive blend of psychedelic fuzz rock.  With the label on the brink of issuing their latest releases, I took the opportunity to fire some questions at them, in order to get low down on this unique and high class vinyl only label

(SL) Guys, thanks for doing this, for those people who are not familiar with your label, could you tell us a little about yourself, your label and why you decided to start Poisoned Mind Records?

Tom:  Thanks Aaron! For a while I’ve wanted to start a label. Records have always been my first love and it’s the format I grew up with and still buy and collect to this day. Mike and I met each other through the vhs and record groups on facebook and finally got to hang out a couple years ago. We realized we shared a lot of the same interests and threw around the idea of starting a label.  We started Poisoned Mind together and had the idea not to limit ourselves as far as the music we put out.  We wanted to create a label that was different, not just strictly a soundtrack or doom label.

(SL) Looking on your store page, you seem to have a number of releases in the pipeline, What can fans look forward to from your label in 2015? How is your schedule shaping up? Any exclusives you can tell us about?

Tom: Going from 2 releases last year we have about 5 albums on tap for release this year so far. A little something for everyone and that’s the vision we had when we started. We have the Fistula 7” coming out in the next couple of days and the Crypt Trip repress, Merlin’s Christ Killer LP which is like a cinematic doom psychedelic trip, The new Wolfmen of Mars LP titled Gamisu, if you dig horror films and soundtracks then Wolfmen is right up your alley, We also have a couple soundtracks that we can’t announce just yet, but sit tight!

(SL) Admittedly, I had an ulterior motive for featuring you guys, having purchased the Crypt Trip die hard, I am also a massive fan of Fistula.  You’re set to release ‘Never Trust a Cop’ on 7inch by those guys, what can you tell us about that, when can we expect that to hit your store and how did you get involved with those guy?  

Tom: Its looks like the Fistula 7’ will hit our site on May 30^th.  Mike was talking with Dan at Patac records and the singer of Fistula and he asked us if we would be interested in releasing it for them. Of course we said yes!

(SL) Given that music and movies can be streamed now on our computers, on TVs, there seems to be less of need to go to a store, to a cinema or to invest time buying the physical product, do you place more importance on offering a great package to your customers, given the emergence of digital age.  What is the ethos behind what you’re trying to do with the label? 

Tom: Of course it’s a different day and age but I love seeing new generations get into

records, cassettes and VHS. I think more and more people are discovering and enjoying these formats.  It was only a matter of time before this happened.  A lot of times I won’t even listen to digital tracks, ill order an album and wait to get it in the mail before I listen to it.  We are just trying to create a nice package for the music and give the fans something special and the bands something that represents them the best we can.

(SL) What, if any bands or labels may have inspired you to start the label or was there a specific reason you felt you wanted to support the art you have?  For example what motivated you to put out Black Devil Doll From Hell as your first release?

Tom: At the time when I was thinking about starting a label there weren’t any soundtrack labels yet. I have been collecting soundtracks since the 90s and I knew it was just a matter of time until they started to tap into that market again. Then Mondo re-released the Maniac soundtrack and then Death Waltz came out and everyone went nuts ha-ha,

A few years later I was talking with Steve at STB Records, him and I go way back as friends and we are from the same area in NJ. We were throwing around the idea of doing a label together but in the end he went out on his own and created such an amazing label, from the bands to the layouts and packages he offers. He was definitely a huge inspiration for us and we continue to help and inspire one another.  Early on I always looked up to labels like hydrahead, hyperrealist and robotic empire. Then it shifted towards, southern lord, tank crimes, rise above, A389, Teepee. Nowadays Hevisike, bilocation, Ripple, Patac. So many great labels out there.

Mainly I think for mike and myself a lot of our friends inspired us to do something, like Louis at Massacre Video, Matt at horrorboobs  Josh at lunchmeat magazine, Uneasy Archive, King Of The Witches. These are all DIY movie labels and it’s great to see all of them growing into something special.

As for why we started with Black Devil Doll From Hell, mike and I both knew Louis at Massacre Video and are fans of this underground classic. It was right around the time Louis actually found the director Chester Turner after trying to track him down for years. Mike and I were outside at a horror convention and mike said to me “hey wouldn’t it be cool if we were able to do a Black Devil Doll From Hell 7” or  something”? I knew right then and there we had to do it and we had to get started on the label together. Up until that point there really wasn’t a soundtrack out there on record for a film Like BDDFH and that was the appeal for us as well. 

(SL) I used to be big a movie fan when I was younger and used to get a kick out of watching trashy horror movies, latterly in my early 20s stuff from Japan such Takeshi Mike movies etc, because I was kinda obsessed with how extreme the boundaries of cinema could be pushed.  Where did your fascination with movies start and why the fascination with VHS? 

Tom: I guess the fascination came from having an older brother who would take me to the movies.  Him and his friends used to rent movies all time and when he went out id sneak into his room and watch the ones I wasn’t supposed to. I remember sneaking into his room one day and watching Make Them Die Slowly/ Cannibal Ferox. Up until that point I never saw anything so brutal, it all looked so real to me and it scared the shit out of me. Kind of like the same feeling I got listening to the song Black Sabbath when I was kid.

Growing up, my Mother worked right next to a video store, so I would spend countless hours in there looking at the covers of all these movies. I was always drawn to the scary and gory covers and even back then I knew that they weren’t just films but these covers were works of art. When DVD hit I switched off like a lot of people did. About 6 years ago I was watching videos on YouTube and discovered that a whole new generation had found love for this format and appreciated these wild covers and movies just like I did growing up and it amazed me. I got bit by the collector bug and started buying them again. It’s a combination of nostalgia and seeing films in their original state or maybe that rare film that doesn’t have a DVD release. Maybe I can download it or watch it on YouTube but for me I want to own it, it’s just a different feeling for me.

(SL) In your experience, how easy/difficult was it to sell the idea of your label and what you hoped to achieve, in the sense of releasing something like Black Devil Doll on vinyl, which many would deem as obscure? Was the first release any more of a gamble than say, releasing Crypt Trip, given there is such a thriving stoner rock scene. 

Tom: We had an idea BDDFH would do well given the cult following it has and the whole mystique of the film. Did we expect it to sell out in a day? No we really didn’t, I think that release surprised a lot of people and just showed what is possible when it comes to releasing soundtracks.

With the Crypt Trip album it was somewhat of the same feeling. I guess expect the worst and hope for the best right?  These days everything is a risk when it comes to releasing music. You just never know. You just try to build a following with your label and hope people dig it. What we hoped to achieve with these releases, we just wanted to do something we both were into and have fun. Sure we had the idea of more releases after BDDFH but I don’t think either of us actually knew if it was gonna go beyond that but we were gonna try to!

(SL) What do you look for in order for you to get involved in releasing something on vinyl?

Tom: If we like something and feel good about it and there isn’t an LP release then we will look into releasing one. We aren’t really concerned with repressing stuff other labels have done before. When it comes to soundtracks and bands our goal has always been to release things that aren’t on record and the same goes for bands we enjoy.

(SL) There is much talk about the ongoing backlog at the pressing plants, which has caused a bottle neck in production and big delays in releases, what are your thoughts about the emerging scene and what are some of the difficulties/frustrations of running a label, because there are many other commitments such as family, work etc that perhaps restrict the amount of time you can dedicate to your label?  Not to mention the financial pressure? 

Tom: The frustration all comes from the wait time for pressing 100% ha-ha. It’s like man I wish we had these records in our hands right now to get em out there! It’s just not how it works though and you just have to be patient and remain positive. 

With the wait times and everything mike and I decided screw it lets just put even more of our money up and send everything we have lined up right now to press instead of spreading it out and this will be the way we operate from here on out.  We both have day jobs, mike busts his ass all day long at his job but I have a job where I can actually work on label stuff in my downtime.  It’s a tough balance and we are both learning what works best for us as time goes on.

(SL) How valuable are blogs and social media? What are your thoughts on changes in the music/movie industry over recent years?

Tom:  Blogs and social media are a huge part today; no way would we have been able to do what we did with our first 2 releases if it wasn’t for it.  It used to be just magazines and music videos but now there are so many more outlets and people who are passionate about things they are into be it music, movies or whatever. Both of our releases were just through word of mouth, social media and Crypt Trip of course playing shows and touring. Bands and social media help us get our name out there just like we help them out. It all comes together in the end.

I do see a huge shift in people wanting to own physical copies now. I think it’s safe to say that all formats are back and here to stay. I mean there are bands that I own the record, cd and cassette. Not only once but 3 times over ha-ha. The same goes for films as well.

(SL) Given that you have a number of releases (2 at present) under your belt, how do you measure the success of each release, are you reliant on selling units in order to release the next one? 

Tom: Whatever money we do make goes right back into releasing more albums and we just put more of our own money up again to try and get ahead of the game and get more releases out there this year. The way we measure success is we are happy just breaking even. We were fortunate enough to have our first 2 releases sell out and hopefully with each release we can keep it going. 

(SL) Some labels place a significant importance on the releases having a sense of being a collectable, with Standard and Die Hard Editions.   What do you feel is the significance of releasing such a package (s)?

Tom: From a record collector and fan standpoint, I feel the significance of doing these

releases is offering something for everyone. You have someone who just wants the die hard version and if they don’t get it they may not even buy anything else and would rather pay more on the secondary market because that’s what they want. Then you have the people who just want it on color vinyl and don’t care about a box set with extras. Oh its only left on black vinyl I want color im not buying it!  Then of course the one who just wants to own the album and doesn’t care what color its on etc. Then the collector who must own every version under the sun and wants them all. 

(SL) If you could have released any movie soundtrack or record past or present, what would it be and why?

Tom: It would definitely be Phantasm and I think I can speak for Mike on this question also since it’s both our favourite series of all time. Mondo actually just released it for the first time in 35 years. That soundtrack sets the tone to the film as well as any out there.  We both just love it.  As for a present soundtrack release we just got the rights to one but you’ll have to wait and see!

(SL) Finally, do you have any final comments/word of wisdom you’d like to bestow upon us?

Tom: Thanks so much for taking the time for this interview Aaron and all the work you do there at Sludgelord. A lot of time and effort goes into what you and your contributors do and it shows and is much appreciated. As far as our releases coming up you can expect a different mix of bands, soundtracks and surprises. Thanks to everyone who made our first year a success and bought something from us and everyone who helped us out along the way. We are just getting started!

The Fistula ‘Never Trust A Cop’ 7inch and repress of Crypt Trip Debut full will be available here from Saturday 30^th May 2015

Words and Interview courtesy of: Aaron Pickord and Tom @ Poisoned Mind Records

 

For more information:

Shop: http://poisonedmindrecords.bigcartel.com/

Like: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Poisoned-Mind-Records/535472189861174



Interview with Gero from Argonauta Records

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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Interview with Jan Von Beuningen from Pink Tank Records

The scene that we love, admire and worship, lives and dies by the choices that individual record labels make, in which bands and artists they sign to their roster. It's a lot harder for the Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metal Community as there are a ton of great bands waiting to be discovered.

How do you decide which act to sign to your label, especially if you're an independent record label that we have featured on the blog numerous times. We have made great friends with STB Records, Ripple Music, Riding Easy Records, Magnetic Eye Records and Lay Bare Recordings over the last 12 months or so.

Though one label has stood out for me over the last 10 months or so. Pink Tank Records. They have signed a ton of great bands to their roster such as Bone Man, Sir Hobo, Sauturus, Camel Driver and the highly impressive ZQKMGDZ. Their vinyls have been admired throughout the Hard Rock/Stoner Metal community.

Jan – the owner of Pink Tank Records – has been a good friend to Sludgelord this year so I have decided to interview the great man himself to find out how Pink Tank Records came to being.

So lets get down to business with Pink Tank Records.

Q1 – Hi Jan. How are things with you today.

Hi Steve! First of all thank you for having me!

2015 starts busy. I am preparing everything for the ZQKMGDZ - Dimension Plasma release and the reissue of Bone Man - Plastic Wasteland. But it’s fun as it’s always for me to do this work.

Q2 – Can you give our readers a brief history of how you became involved in music?

Definitely my father is responsible for my love for music. He played in a band which supported The Beatles several times in Hamburg. I always heard stuff like The Beatles, Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who and Hendrix with my parents when I was a kid. Also I did a lot of jamming with my father in our basement. He on the guitar and me on the drums. Later I played in several bands. But I was not good enough, haha!

Q3 – Congrations on starting your own record label 'Pink Tank Records'. Why did you start your own label. Any specific reasons for you doing this?

Thanx! I started writing reviews on my own blog and discovered so many new bands that I thought it may will be cool to start my own label and so I did.

Q4 – Was it a hard task or journey setting up the record label?

Retrospective it was a daring move, but no risk no fun! It’s a shitload of work because I do everything on my own. And the first time it was really hard to calculate because I have had no experience with the industry and I never thought that it could be as tricky as it was several times. But I learned so much within the last year and I think I can say that Pink Tank Records has a healthy and strong fundament now. That makes things not easier but I’ve had no sleepless nights in the last few weeks, haha. Yes it was really hard the first half year.

Q5 – Why did you call the record label – Pink Tank Records. Any specific meaning behind it.

I arranged a live show for two bands in Hamburg and received a gig poster for it and the Pink Tank was on it in a different way. The venue I booked didn’t want the poster because the didn’t liked it. At this time I was searching for a name and a logo for the label and I was totally in love with the Pink Tank and asked the artist if I can have the design for my label. Pink Tank Records was born…

Q6 – You have signed a great range of artists to your label. Such as the ones I mentioned above. How did you manage to sign those great bands/artists?

I try to visit much live gigs in the area because I like to hear the live power of a band. Also I get many requests and recommendations from friends, other signed bands and of course I follow all the great music support pages in the web. I want to let all of you know how important the work is you guys do!!!

Q7 - What I like about Pink Tank Records is even though you sign regular Hard Rock/Sludge/Doom/Stoner Rock Bands. You're also willing to take a risk with experimental acts such as Sir Hobo and Camel Driver. Is that part of your plan to sign something different to the mix compared to the other artists.

To be honest, there is no plan behind, hahaha! I only signed and will sign acts that I like.

I want to stay 110% behind it and don’t want to sign a band because it may can be a financial success or to follow a trend. For me it’s more important that the bands like the idea and the Pink Tank Records family philosophy.

Q8 – Do you have a set or rules into signing a band/artist to your label or wanting to work with them.

As I said before the most important for me is that a band agree with the label philosophy. If it’s getting close to a sign I submit this philosophy and want the band to stay behind it. Our contracts are different and the label has less income because of it. But hey, Pink Tank is „only“ the label and has nothing to to with the great art the bands do! I think the success of Pink Tank Records is based on this and the bands feel good to be a part of the family.

Q9 – How much involvement do bands have with the design of their record on vinyl. Or is it all down to yourself.

Every band is involved 100%! For sure I give my advice for the artwork and the colour of the band edition but the band has the last word!

Q10 – Which bands and artists started your love affair with music. Any particular albums that stand out.

There are too many great albums, I will never be able to do a top list… my personal love affair with music started with The Doors.

Q11 – Our scene has a lot of great labels doing their own thing. Ripple, STB Records, Riding Easy, Magnetic Eye, Lay Bare Recordings and Burning World Records. Are you a fan of those labels. Have you asked them for advice when starting your label or releasing certain records.

Yeah for sure they all do a great job and are really important for the „underground“ music scene! It’s more than a pleasure for me to be named in a row with such great labels. I am more or less in contact with them, but I never asked for advice.

Q12 – How challenging is it to own and operate a record label in today's climate. It's an ever-expanding market but it's very expensive to do.

It was hard at the beginning and I have to learn many lessons. As I said before Pink Tank Records reached a point where things are more easy. But you are right it is expensive and every day the challenge starts again to manage everything. The goal is to grow healthy and be fair to the artists I think it will pay pack! Also I have the feeling that the climate especially in our scene is most times fair and honest.

Q13 – If you could change anything within the Vinyl Record Scene what would it be.

I know that it’s important to do limited editions and special colour editions to re finance a release. I am doing this, too. But I am a little tired of this ultra die hard and test pressing stuff. Sometimes less is more in my opinion.

Q14 – Has it surprised you how well people have taken to your label and buying your products.

Yes it did! And I am so thankful for such a great support. Every day it makes me so happy when I take a look at the Facebook page and see the awesome response. It’s amazing at all. Also I am glad that the bands on Pink Tank Records get the attention they deserve.

Q15 – If you could provide any advice to someone wanting to start a record label. What would it be.

Do you have 60 hours a week time for it?

Q16 – What is your view on labels providing digital download codes with their labels. Some labels do provide this but some do not due to high costs.

We do this stuff with BandCamp and it works good! Also I think it’s cool to offer a digital download code within a vinyl release. I hear much music via my mobile when I drive to my regular job by train and I think most of you do the same.

Q17 – What is in store for Pink Tank Records in 2015. Any exciting plans that you can tell us about.

A lot will happen in the first half of this year. Next are the releases of ZQKMDZ and Burn Pilot and the reissue of Bone Man - Plastic Wasteland. Followed by CRAANG, Testosteroll, Libido Fuzz, Stonebirds, Atomic Vulture and NAAM. Also we will release a split of two family members. For the second half of 2015 I am in contact with several new bands. The Tank will not stop!

Well Jan thanks for doing this. All the best with your brilliant record label. As you know I am a huge fan of your label.

Thank you Steve it was a pleasure for me and thank you for your great work! Cheers, mate.

Thanks to Jan for taking the time out to talk to us at Sludgelord HQ.

Words by Steve Howe and Jan Von Beuningen

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