Q+As With Label Owners (W/ Night Tracks)
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:16 pm
I thought it would be interesting to explore behind-the-scenes of record labels of varying sizes in order to get an understanding and appreciation of what it takes to run one successfully, and to also add some depth to their respective catalogues. So, i'm now attempting to get some short interview-type dealies going with a few label owners on here and hopefully you will find them interesting. Gareth of Night Tracks has already been kind enough to help get me started 
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(Hopefully) A musical mixed bag that makes a lot more sense in certain environments than others.
2.) How did the initial idea of Night Tracks come about?
Well, we started as a blog on a whim (thanks to Knell's Secret Ninja Blog thread), about electronic music focused towards night time listening. The name came from the name I gave to a CD I burnt to listen to in my car. For reference, it was probably these tracks.
I love the music of Burial, and people like Ghostek, all the dark garage-y people, and thought "If I like this, maybe others will". Eventually, I was lucky enough to have people deem me worthy to send their music to, and after my friend at work, Venture, was looking for somewhere to put out an album, I thought, why not start a label?
3.) As the curator, do you have a specific vision for the label?
Hmm... It might sound bad, but not particularly. I tend to take it release by release, simply putting out stuff I feel fits a vibe I'm feeling at the moment. Our next release is pretty summer-night-y, so obviously I don't wanna put that out in the depths of winter.
4.) Are there any labels you've taken inspiration from?
When I was starting up, I always looked to labels like Broken Bubble, a digital label that was consistent with quality and "doing things properly". No matter how different their releases are, I feel like there's a cohesion running through them. Guy also gave me a lot of help when making some crucial decisions about Night Tracks.
5.) How do you go about discovering the artists that you sign? Are they real-life people you know or, as a net-label, did you find them online?
Bit of both. The first release was by Venture, who I worked with. I've got a working relationship with everybody else I've released music with, but I had to find them in the first place.
6.) Have you ever considered publishing to physical media?
Yes I have. Bit put off by the price at the moment as when I do, I want it to be something special, something that stands out. I don't want it to be money wasted.
7.) Do you do the mastering yourself, get it done by someone else for free or pay to get it done? If the latter, what should a fresh start-up label expect to pay?
Nope, we pay a guy to master it. On average, we pay about £50/60 for a release.
8.) The above question, but with your artwork?
The artwork is done by Taavi, a graphics design student we have on board. He does it for free (at the moment!).
9.) How many demos do you get per week, and how long do you spend listening to them? What percentage is worth it?
Some weeks maybe 5, some weeks 20? I'll listen to the ones I know will be relevant, I've gained a sort of sixth sense now.
10.) What methods do you utilise to promote the sounds?
Just about everything, social media, promo to selected magazines/blogs/websites, exclusives to DJs we like and respect. If I had the time to come up with something innovative, I would.
11.) What is the most important aspect of running the label?
Promo. Without it, you're going nowhere. I wish it wasn't like it is, but it's a fight just to get noticed. Also, forget soundcloud comments and facebook likes. I learnt a long time ago that a lot of people are happy to click a button, and say nice things, but not nearly happy enough to buy your release.
12.) What was your initial start-up cost for the label?
Nothing. Started with nothing, pretty much the amount I have now
13.) A bit of a personal one, but do you actually make a profit? How do you split the shares?
Hmm... We have done. Not a large profit, but when we do, it's 50/50 between label and artist.
14.) What's the most fulfilling part of doing all of this?
That's a tough one. I've got to say, at times it can get you down, but when you hear people you respect enjoy the music, and see people actually willing to pay money for something you've worked on, that's pretty cool.
15.) Do you have a personal favourite release from your label?
That's another tough one, obviously I really like every release I put out, or I wouldn't do it, but one I feel didn't get enough attention (probably because we were a lot smaller at the time) was Bhava - Immerse. That tune still sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Maybe it's because it's the first release where I actually "found" the producer, maybe it's because me and my girlfriend got soaked getting the picture for the artwork, but it holds a special place for me, the first release that I had to work for. I actually think a lot of heads on here would feel it if they checked it out.
16.)If you could sign one act to your label, who would it be?
Gotta be the man himself... Burial.
17.) Where do you see Night Tracks in five years time?
Probably exactly where we are now, to be honest.
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Big thanks to Gareth for doing this, was fun and i hope it can give an insight for those of us who have toyed with the idea of starting up a label. Do yourself a favour and check out both the Night Tracks blog and Bandcamp. If any other label owners on here would be interesting in answering a few similar questions, please just PM me!
Thank you for reading
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Night Tracks is a young label, just barely a year old, but has already formed a distinctive and fresh outlet for new music and artists. Pushing a familiar yet unique sound, each release has something special to offer in the world of dark, dreamy garage. The founder and owner is Gareth (a.k.a Budeaux), a 22 year old software tester by profession, who runs the label from the outskirts of Birmingham.
1.) How would you describe the Night Tracks output?(Hopefully) A musical mixed bag that makes a lot more sense in certain environments than others.
2.) How did the initial idea of Night Tracks come about?
Well, we started as a blog on a whim (thanks to Knell's Secret Ninja Blog thread), about electronic music focused towards night time listening. The name came from the name I gave to a CD I burnt to listen to in my car. For reference, it was probably these tracks.
I love the music of Burial, and people like Ghostek, all the dark garage-y people, and thought "If I like this, maybe others will". Eventually, I was lucky enough to have people deem me worthy to send their music to, and after my friend at work, Venture, was looking for somewhere to put out an album, I thought, why not start a label?
3.) As the curator, do you have a specific vision for the label?
Hmm... It might sound bad, but not particularly. I tend to take it release by release, simply putting out stuff I feel fits a vibe I'm feeling at the moment. Our next release is pretty summer-night-y, so obviously I don't wanna put that out in the depths of winter.
4.) Are there any labels you've taken inspiration from?
When I was starting up, I always looked to labels like Broken Bubble, a digital label that was consistent with quality and "doing things properly". No matter how different their releases are, I feel like there's a cohesion running through them. Guy also gave me a lot of help when making some crucial decisions about Night Tracks.
5.) How do you go about discovering the artists that you sign? Are they real-life people you know or, as a net-label, did you find them online?
Bit of both. The first release was by Venture, who I worked with. I've got a working relationship with everybody else I've released music with, but I had to find them in the first place.
6.) Have you ever considered publishing to physical media?
Yes I have. Bit put off by the price at the moment as when I do, I want it to be something special, something that stands out. I don't want it to be money wasted.
7.) Do you do the mastering yourself, get it done by someone else for free or pay to get it done? If the latter, what should a fresh start-up label expect to pay?
Nope, we pay a guy to master it. On average, we pay about £50/60 for a release.
8.) The above question, but with your artwork?
The artwork is done by Taavi, a graphics design student we have on board. He does it for free (at the moment!).
9.) How many demos do you get per week, and how long do you spend listening to them? What percentage is worth it?
Some weeks maybe 5, some weeks 20? I'll listen to the ones I know will be relevant, I've gained a sort of sixth sense now.
10.) What methods do you utilise to promote the sounds?
Just about everything, social media, promo to selected magazines/blogs/websites, exclusives to DJs we like and respect. If I had the time to come up with something innovative, I would.
11.) What is the most important aspect of running the label?
Promo. Without it, you're going nowhere. I wish it wasn't like it is, but it's a fight just to get noticed. Also, forget soundcloud comments and facebook likes. I learnt a long time ago that a lot of people are happy to click a button, and say nice things, but not nearly happy enough to buy your release.
12.) What was your initial start-up cost for the label?
Nothing. Started with nothing, pretty much the amount I have now
13.) A bit of a personal one, but do you actually make a profit? How do you split the shares?
Hmm... We have done. Not a large profit, but when we do, it's 50/50 between label and artist.
14.) What's the most fulfilling part of doing all of this?
That's a tough one. I've got to say, at times it can get you down, but when you hear people you respect enjoy the music, and see people actually willing to pay money for something you've worked on, that's pretty cool.
15.) Do you have a personal favourite release from your label?
That's another tough one, obviously I really like every release I put out, or I wouldn't do it, but one I feel didn't get enough attention (probably because we were a lot smaller at the time) was Bhava - Immerse. That tune still sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Maybe it's because it's the first release where I actually "found" the producer, maybe it's because me and my girlfriend got soaked getting the picture for the artwork, but it holds a special place for me, the first release that I had to work for. I actually think a lot of heads on here would feel it if they checked it out.
16.)If you could sign one act to your label, who would it be?
Gotta be the man himself... Burial.
17.) Where do you see Night Tracks in five years time?
Probably exactly where we are now, to be honest.
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Big thanks to Gareth for doing this, was fun and i hope it can give an insight for those of us who have toyed with the idea of starting up a label. Do yourself a favour and check out both the Night Tracks blog and Bandcamp. If any other label owners on here would be interesting in answering a few similar questions, please just PM me!
Thank you for reading
