thanks to s. troussé for submitting that piece on my jeepster profile. i write for a webzine called 'the kinda muzik you like', which has been around for around a year. it's quite interesting to have read something that was posted last month, with almost identical questions! i came up with my questions on my own, along with the opening paragraph, and it does indeed seem to be all too similar for my taste. compare: http://www.kindamuzik.net/labels/jeepster.shtml and http://www.poetrysoc.com/krazy/krazy.htm hmm, now as i don't really like it even being associated with a potential rip-off and my work is original, here - and i'm really sorry to post all of this - is jeepster's reply to me, dated 16 february:
AP Tobin wrote:
david, here are a few questions for the label profile feature. feel free to add anything at your leisure...
1. Why did you choose to name your label Jeepster? Does it come from the T Rex song?
The name Jeepster was chosen by Stef (one of the founders). It does come from the T-Rex song. The idea being that it sounded like a person and something you can relate to rather than a corporate entity, as well as reflecting the music we listen to.
2. How would you describe the Jeepster Sound? What are the qualities you look for when signing artists to the label?
Alternative/Pop? We generally go for good song writing skills, prolific creativity with the intrumentation and a unique vocalist.
3. If they weren't signed already, is there any band you'd love to snatch up without hesitation?
Quite a few actually, The Super Furry Animals are the first that come to mind. But then also Beck, Bjork, Grandaddy, Blur, The Prodigy, Flaming Lips, we could go on for days :) there's no point being in this business if you don't still love music.
4. Jeepster is a relatively small and independent label. How important is the make-up and position of the label to you? Is independence and size a major factor in the label's philosophy?
Independence is integral to the way we work, small is beautiful. Although we can see the label growing into the future being small at the moment is very good, with only 4 full time members of staff there are no internal communication problems and we can make decisions and act on them very quickly.
5. What - in short - is the history of Jeepster? How did it come about?
Mark had become bored and frustrated with working for major record companies for 15 years, and Stef had worked in the city for that time. When Mark finally left the majors with the dream of starting his own company (in which he would finally have the ability to sign the bands he loved and work on them in a way that reflected the music and wasn't just part of a rigid marketing strategy), Stef agreed to come onboard with him and invest in the startup of the company. Both Stef and Mark's friendship had developed from going to gigs through the previous years, and here at last was the chance to put out records that were of the same quality and diversity as the ones that their friendship had grown from.
6. The internet is rapidly changing the way people consume and listen to music. How important is this new technology to you, and do you have any plans to use this medium in different ways?
It's incredibly valuable to us. We don't work on records in a traditional way, we have no rule book dictating how to make and sell a record. And because of our size, we can't compete with a major record labels million pound advertising campaign. As a result we have put everything into finding the best way to let the people who buy our records know about our records. It just follows through that the best way to do this is not to wallpaper the streets with posters but to give the information directly to the fans and to help provide the services that enable the fans to get in touch with other fans and grow the fan base from the grass roots. We will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible (technically and creatively) and continue to ignore the rules on how to do things. We create music for people, and we'll continue to use technology to let people know about it, be this through internet radio, wireless area protocol, digital distribution, or a fanzine element to the websites.
7. What does a typical day at Jeepster Central look like?
Well the office is a permanent mess, merchandise covering the floor, paperwork all over the deskspace, the walls cluttered with posters. We all use computers and the internet a lot, so our desks are dominated by them. In between fits of laughter, cups of tea and generally taking the piss out of each other we get a surprising amount of work done. It's a simple 'heads down' ideal, providing the work is done quickly and to a high standard, then everything else if just fun and play and helps to keep the atmosphere electric.
8. Aside from CD releases, a good deal of your records come out on vinyl. How important is vinyl to you?
Most of the bands love of vinyl has encouraged us to continue to release records on vinyl. But there is no doubt that the format is sadly dying. We'll continue to put out records for as long as they can cover their own costs as there's still no beating the sheer experience of getting a new record, removing it from the slip, and dropping the needle onto it for the first time. Records are very personal items, moreso than a CD, it remembers the time you scratch it and that becomes part of the character of your particular piece of vinyl, you really can't surpass it for emotional attachment. That is something that digital media neutralises too much.
9. When releasing a record, how important is packaging to you, combined with the music on the disc? Is there a Jeepster look?
Again, this is an artist led decision. We try to give them full creative control and merely advise on feasibility and production angles. Jeepster is about putting out great music, the finer details like design should be part of the artistic process of creating music, we're here to enable it and not dictate it.
10. Have you ever thought about branching out into other areas such as books or video?
Not really, we're a record company, we don't want to be the next virgin and have planes, trains and crap soft drinks or other types of media empires. We're very happy putting out the best music that we can and sticking to what we believe we know, thank you very much :)
11. What does the future hold for Jeepster?
Who knows? We're going to continue what we're doing, continue to believe in the music and place that first. We're quite humble about what we've achieved and we're not aiming to be the 'biggest record label in the world' or anything. It's the old cliché, we're happy with what we're doing, we love the music, and providing it manages to pay the rent for the bands and ourselves, then we want to do this forever, anything else, is just a bonus :)
hope all of that is helpful alex :)
david
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sorry to post all of that, but i'm a bit livid really. god knows how the other article could've been published last month, unless it was backdated. or is someone taking the piss? please do tell me that's what it is! cheers, alex http://www.pulped.co.uk +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the undead Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+