Starting a New Label - 1st Release Suggestions?

[papashawn]

So I'm going to try my hand at starting my own independent record label. I've gotten some great input from a few established guys (Gilead, Vega), and I've got a few ideas for my first release. Not sure what would make the best first release though. I wanted to press something that hasn't been on vinyl before, either new or something older that was overlooked. Here's my thoughts so far:

1. The Postman Syndrome - Terraforming

2/3. maudlin of the Well - Bath & Leaving Your Body Map

4. Irepress - Samus Octology

5. East of the Wall - Farmer's Almanac

I contacted the guys in East of the Wall about pressing Terraforming, but didn't get a response. Not sure if that one is going to go through. Haven't yet approached Toby Driver about the motW albums. Not sure how many fans are out there. I know if people heard them, they'd be hooked, they are/were amazing. Proggy Death Metal with hints of about 10 other styles across each album. For fans of Opeth, Isis, Porcupine Tree, Kayo Dot, Tiamat (the album Wildhoney was a huge influence on the motW sound initially).

What are your thoughts?

[silentgods]

i would fucking love it if you pressed Irepress.

band is killer.

[icecream]

You should probably get the dude from Magic Bullet's approval first...

[xjustinxschwierx]

yeah you should probably get approval from labels, bands, etc before talking about putting them out.

that being said, years ago a friend brought the bass player from The Postman Syndrome to my radio show to hang out and the dude took his clothes off and was naked the whole night, it was awkward.

[whenslunchrecords]

yeah you should probably get approval from labels, bands, etc before talking about putting them out.

[silentgods]

i think the dude is just kicking around ideas man.

we can't even think about thinking about pressing a record without a bands/labels approval?

[jhulud]

The argument that people keep bringing up when someone even thinks up starting a new level has been getting aggravating. Just like the flipping (sellers & buyers) argument.

If the dude has the money, passion, and resources to start a label to press some of his favorite bands records to vinyl, by all means go for it. There's no need for other labels or people to be the Record Label Police (expect some jackass to create that profile soon I'm sure) to dictate who can or cannot start a label.

Shawn...go for it dude. There are plenty of dudes on this board who run labels and would be more than glad to assist and answer questions.

Juan is off his soapbox now.

[silentgods]

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[papashawn]

I definitely understand that I need to have the band's and the label's approval prior to doing any of this. I did hesitate before posting this because all of this is in the conceptual stages, but I was just looking for input from people to see if there would be any interest in the releases I would like to press. Like I said, I was contacting the dudes from EotW (former members of postman syndrome) regarding the Terraforming pressing. I didn't want to send out a bunch of requests to different bands/labels simply because I can only afford to do one release at a time. That said, is there any more interest in the potential releases I listed in my first post?

[deafmx]

...of confidence and power....

I'd say East Of The Wall, really liked their split with Year Of No Light/Rosetta.

[jhulud]

Just to clarify...when I said not needing the approval of other labels or people, I mean as in outside of the label who put out that particular album and the band itself.

[cactusbot]

Maudlin Of The Well please.

[xjustinxschwierx]

i think the dude is just kicking around ideas man.

we can't even think about thinking about pressing a record without a bands/labels approval?

I'm not totally shooting down the idea, just being practical. That being said, I've only heard of 2 those bands and have only heard one of them...

[papashawn]

What did you think about last year's Part... the Second? That would be a little easier to press, being 100% funded by fans, and only being released digitally so far. Though, its not my first choice of their albums, Bath and LYBM are just phenomenal.

[mclz]

I'd buy a 7" of the Free Credit Report songs if it came out.

[malestudent15]

Sorry, every time I see your user name this is always what I think about.

Also, good luck!

[icecream]

YES ! papa shango that dude was bad ass

[papashawn]

Yeah, a guy I was friends with back in high school suggested the name. Little did I know it was a wrestling reference, and I didn't get it until a while later. I've just stuck with it.

[flood]

I'd buy a 7" of the Free Credit Report songs if it came out.

backed 1000000X

[One Hundred Fifty-Two]

Ask a friend that is in a band if you can release their next album.

[gloamingtime]

I would buy Terraforming in a heartbeat. I missed them when they played here years ago and my friend gave me a copy of the CD. It was one of my favorites for a long time. I haven't kept up with the band-changes and name-changes lately but I'd be interested in anything related to them.

[troymess]

East of the Wall has my vote...great release.

[Guest afsdan]

start with your favorite local band!

[jtmckrackles]

maudlin of the Well please! I'd love to have Bath/LYBM.

[Fartcat]

Try and put out The Knockdown - Test/Retest. The CD came out on KOD but there was never a vinyl release. It's a solid album too.