How Do You Define Music's Independent Spirit?
We have a put together an exclusive playlist for the new PIAS Spotify app and a competition to win a bag stuffed full of PIAS records and goodies, but first a few thoughts..
- CocoRosie - Tales of a GrassWidow
- Laurel Halo - Behind the Green Door
- Frankie & the Heartstrings - The Days Run Away
- Drowned in Manchester #15 – May 2013
- Animal Collective - Monkey Been to Burntown
- Club 8 - Above the City
- The Focus Group - The Elektrik Karousel
- In Photos: Pigeon Detectives @ The Leadmill, Sheffield
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For me, the three brightest beacons of the independent spirit in music of the 21st century
are The Three J's: Jack White, James Murphy, and Johnny Jewel.
Whether they're on indie labels or majors, whether they're mainstream or underground, whether you love them or loathe them, there's no denying that all three of these gentlemen forged their own path and did their own thing. They are living testaments of what the independent spirit can achieve.
Can't wait to run my 90min chat with Johnny Jewel, probably put it up on Bank Holiday Monday. He was everything you'd hope someone who runs an Independent label to be, and so much more (I may have argued his case at the AIM awards for about 10minutes... it led to Huw Stephens going out and buying Kill for Love, so it wasn't a total waste of time)
Haha, good work.
I also got a chance to talk to him before his show with Chromatics at Madame Jojo's. I went there hoping to blag a ticket, and he happened to be hanging out at the front door. He was so nice he even got me on the guestlist for their show at Village Underground the next night. He's a helluva fella.
You should start a plug.dj sesh based on independent labels/artists.
And as far as interviews go, this is my favourite one with James Murphy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYCz06bS380&feature=related
It's about time you put that interview up, I've been on the edge of my seat here for ages (safety wink)!
Simple
Just ask yourself "If he saw this, would Ian Mackaye tut and shake his head?"
Autonomy
Independent? Please no-one but yourself. Record everything that matters. Remain true to your convictions. Work hard. If your music is worthy of an audience, that audience will find you.
Profit is not at first place
Independent spirit means for me that artist should not be dependant on money making. True art is always state of mind, not a state of the wallet.