With sales of vinyl records reaching a 20 year high last year could cassette tapes be the next retro format making a comeback? Sorbie Rd are doing their bit to help the resurgence.
Sorbie Rd are a recently launched independent record label set up to help artists record and release physically. Sorbie Rd were set up by friends Steven Kerr and Lee Strain.
I chat to Steven Kerr about Sorbie Rd, what difficulties they have encountered setting up the label and their future plans.
On setting up the label Kerr said “There comes a point when you're searching for music where you start to look at the labels behind the artists in order to find exactly what you want. Doing so opens you up to more of the same whenever you discover something specific you enjoy. Labels in the past like Postcard Records offered something new and shook the music industry.”
He continues “While we are not aiming to deliberately make an impact on the industry as whole - we are aiming to release music with intent, music which serves a specific purpose. Instead of choosing a specific genre to stick to we hope to let the values and ethos of the artists be the defining characteristic of the label.”
Sorbie Rd are a recently launched independent record label set up to help artists record and release physically. Sorbie Rd were set up by friends Steven Kerr and Lee Strain.
I chat to Steven Kerr about Sorbie Rd, what difficulties they have encountered setting up the label and their future plans.
On setting up the label Kerr said “There comes a point when you're searching for music where you start to look at the labels behind the artists in order to find exactly what you want. Doing so opens you up to more of the same whenever you discover something specific you enjoy. Labels in the past like Postcard Records offered something new and shook the music industry.”
He continues “While we are not aiming to deliberately make an impact on the industry as whole - we are aiming to release music with intent, music which serves a specific purpose. Instead of choosing a specific genre to stick to we hope to let the values and ethos of the artists be the defining characteristic of the label.”
‘You Decide’ by The Pale Kids was the first release on Sorbie Rd. It was launched at The Old Hairdressers last month.
The Pale Kids are a North Ayrshire based they play post-punk pop noise. ‘You Decide’ is their debut release.
The release has been popular with the whole run of tapes selling out within the first week of release.
The Pale Kids are a North Ayrshire based they play post-punk pop noise. ‘You Decide’ is their debut release.
The release has been popular with the whole run of tapes selling out within the first week of release.
Setting up a record label doesn’t come without its difficulties particularly a label which specialises in cassette tapes.
“We've been making it up as we've went along the whole way.” admits Kerr. “Everything we've done we just tried to figure out ourselves.”
“Most of the problems have been technical ones, annoying things like working out the cheapest way to do things without a compromise in quality. Although tapes are a really cheap and easy way to make physical music we had a few problems trying to source equipment which worked.”
Kerr continues “Other than that it's just down to organisation, getting ourselves and others together at the right time to make deadlines.”
Kerr and Strain plan to keep the roster small to being with, working with artists to help develop their sound.
“After The Pale Kids, we'll be working on the debut releases of two other artists. We plan to keep our roster small to start with and to put a lot of effort into each release. Quality over quantity”
“We have the aim to work three core artists developing their sound within each of their own individual styles yet keeping the same indescribable quality that they all share.”
Although still in the very early stages of running a record label Kerr and Strain have learned a lot in such a short space of time. What advice would they give to other looking to start their own record label?
“Give yourself more time than necessary before doing anything. There has always been unexpected problems that come up which cause delays, this can sometimes lead to working out better ways to do things however.”
Kerr goes on to say “Try to do everything yourself, it give you complete freedom and a greater sense of achievement - that being said, ask for help when needed. There always seems to be someone you know who has the expertise to help you out, even if you don’t know them personally.”
For more information and all their artists check out the Sorbie Rd website.
http://sorbierd.com/youtube
https://www.facebook.com/sorbierd
http://sorbierd.com/
“We've been making it up as we've went along the whole way.” admits Kerr. “Everything we've done we just tried to figure out ourselves.”
“Most of the problems have been technical ones, annoying things like working out the cheapest way to do things without a compromise in quality. Although tapes are a really cheap and easy way to make physical music we had a few problems trying to source equipment which worked.”
Kerr continues “Other than that it's just down to organisation, getting ourselves and others together at the right time to make deadlines.”
Kerr and Strain plan to keep the roster small to being with, working with artists to help develop their sound.
“After The Pale Kids, we'll be working on the debut releases of two other artists. We plan to keep our roster small to start with and to put a lot of effort into each release. Quality over quantity”
“We have the aim to work three core artists developing their sound within each of their own individual styles yet keeping the same indescribable quality that they all share.”
Although still in the very early stages of running a record label Kerr and Strain have learned a lot in such a short space of time. What advice would they give to other looking to start their own record label?
“Give yourself more time than necessary before doing anything. There has always been unexpected problems that come up which cause delays, this can sometimes lead to working out better ways to do things however.”
Kerr goes on to say “Try to do everything yourself, it give you complete freedom and a greater sense of achievement - that being said, ask for help when needed. There always seems to be someone you know who has the expertise to help you out, even if you don’t know them personally.”
For more information and all their artists check out the Sorbie Rd website.
http://sorbierd.com/youtube
https://www.facebook.com/sorbierd
http://sorbierd.com/
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