What's your criteria for signing bands to the label?
It needs to feel really important to us because there's always other things that we could be doing with our time. Actually, we're never really looking for something or thinking we should be signing another group, but sometimes we'll hear something and we really want to be involved with it or feel we can help. We need to like the people involved and it has to be music that both Katrina and I already feel close to or feel that we want to become close to in the future. It has to feel like it makes sense for the identity and future development of Geographic, and Domino need to feel good about it too.
There's not really one thing: melodies, originality, people, personalities, ideas, and a certain intensity. It's all of these things.
How has you're experience in The Pastels shaped the way you've run the label and deal with the artists?
We try to be open and realistic with our artists and we try to keep everything simple. We try to treat our artists as we would like to be treated ourselves. We're influenced by the way Domino has been with The Pastels.
I've found one of the hardest parts of keeping an indie label going is cashflow and getting enough revenue coming in. I'm guessing that having Domino's backing makes that easier. Does having Domino's backing ever mean you've had to compromise what you've done with the label, or do they pretty much give you a free hand?
We are in a privileged position but we also feel strongly that we are bringing something unique to Domino. Most of the compromises we've made have been for the good of the label, but because of the way their business is set up, Domino find it hard to do records that are going to sell less than 5000. Sometimes it's frustrating when there's something small and brilliant, but in our hearts we know it won't make 5000. About 50% of the music we love falls into that category.
Are there any particular pitfalls in the industry that you've encountered that bands should avoid?
We've always followed our instincts and done what it's taken to get a new record out. Generally this is ok but proper contract advice should always be paramount. Get everything down in writing, otherwise it's just as Laurence Bell says, 'two blokes down the pub'.
Any advice for someone wanting to setting up an indie label today?
You need to have an amazing vision for it, an idea and an identity. What are you going to be about? Is it viable or not? It's very difficult.
Learn More About Indie Labels:
- Before You Start a Record Label
- Q&A with Mr. Len of Smacks Records
- Q&A with Scott Macdonald of KFM Records
- Q&A with Ed Pybus of SL Records
- Q&A with Francis Macdonald of Shoeshine Records
- Q&A with David Gedge of The Wedding Present
- Q&A with MC Serch
- Long Lost Record Labels Part One
- Smacks Records Profile
- 99 Records Profile
- Stones Throw Records
- Domino Records Profile
- Rough Trade Records Profile
