Today's
guest has provided me with a few superb promos over the years.
Without him I probably would have never discovered bands such as
Witchthroat Serpent. One of my fave current Doom/Stoner Metal bands
he has released on his great label – Deadlight Entertainment.
I
wanted to find out more about Deadlight Entertainment as it's a
pretty cool label doing a damn good job releasing superb records from
bands such as Witchthroat Serpent and Cult Of Occult.
Alex
has kindly agreed to do this interview. So let's see what he has to
say...
Hi
Alex. How are things with you today. Thanks for doing this interview.
Hello
my lord! I am fine today, packing stuff, under a great weather while
listening to a local band I like called Kobaye Corp!
We
are hear to talk about your awesome record label – Deadlight
Entertainment. How and why did you start that label.
I
am pretty much used to say “pure coincidence!” I was a musician
since my teenage years (I even used to play with a guy who could suck
his own dick and who is now a famous fisherman) and a friend decided
to start a record label and asked for my help. The label was called
Plague Within Records and released the solo album of Joe Falzone aka
Joe Frustration the singer of US hardcore band Tears of Frustration.
After
one year of existence, I was pretty bored by it. I was in NYC for a
time as I was involved with NYC based horror movie company Hallows
Eve Films and we were shooting our first movie “The Turnpike
Killer”. During a break we went to see Exodus at BB King with Evan
Makrogiannis, one of the founder of Hallows Eve Films (and a true
brother) and we had a chat about music, the label etc. He told me
“Man you should leave this label and start your own!”
Was
it an easy or hard process starting the label.
It
was pretty hard as the little experience I had through my past label
was not the good one and I was not living in the most rock n’roll
region of France!
What
were your original aims and objectives when starting the label. And
do you still have the same aims and objectives today.
My
objective was simple:to release quality bands playing quality music.
You've
released a ton of great releases over the years from bands such as
Cult Of Occult, Witchthroat Serpent, amongst others. Did you ever
expect to sign or work with an impressive amount of artists when you
started the label.
In fact the the first aim was to release the album of my friends from South Impact and I wasn’t expecting to be there 8 years after with more than 50 releases.
Do
you have a set of rules when signing a band to your label.
I
must have a crush on the band: music, name, attitude, concept,
artwork. Which happened with the newly arrived NUISIBLE!
Our
scene has a lot of great labels doing their own thing. Ripple, STB
Records, Riding Easy, Magnetic Eye, Lay Bare Recordings, Pink Tank
Records 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.
When
I started the label I wasn’t in contact with any label. Today I
have great relationships with a lot of great labels.
Your
label covers a wide range of music within the
Doom/Psych/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene. Though you do explore into the
more extreme side of metal.
Well, Deadlight is not a label into those styles you quoted. I am a very eclectic person when it comes to the music and when I look at the 50 releases I can find hardcore, death metal, doom, sludge, black metal. But only quality! Speaking of doom , sludge etc I am pretty proud to have Witchthroat Serpent and Cult of Occult which count among the best acts from France’s doom, stoner, sludge scene.
You've
released records on CD and DD. Would you ever consider doing Vinyl.
Obviously a very expensive process. How do you decide which bands
albums to release on which format.
I
rarely do vinyl as I am not a big vinyl buyer. I come from the CD
generation and I grew up buying TONS of CDs (which I still do!) and
some cassettes! Of course I have some vinyl's at home (I bought 15
used records during a trip in Oslo last month) but to me the current
buzz around vinyl looks like a trend.
If
you could change anything within the Independent Record Scene what
would it be and why.
People
realizing how bad it is to never buy records, more record shops,
better manufacturing costs and delays. And more honesty from people
in bands, media etc.
Has
it surprised you how well people have taken to your label and buying
your products.
A
lot!!! When I started, people who knew me said my business won’t
last 3 months and 8 years later I am still here (and they are not!).
Also I feel very proud to work with talented musicians and to have
helped in a lot of bands evolution. Even if musicians are not the
most grateful people on earth.
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.
Sun
shines for everybody. I think every label has its own way to work.
Before
you go, do you have anything to say to your fans.
Respect
the music! Come out and zouk! My greetings to my son Milo and the
current label bands!
Well
Alex, thanks for doing this. All the best with the label and your
future releases.
Words
by Steve Howe and Alex Martinez
I
want to thank Alex for taking the time to talking to me. Check out
his fantastic label – Deadlight Entertainment and discover some
great bands that he has released over the years.
Links:
