I always try and live by the mantra ‘be the change you want to see in the world’, and as much as I try and live by that, it’s equally inspiring to see my friends conduct their lives in the same way. My friends Louis and Ed (louis on the right, Ed left), or as you may know them from their previous appearances on here, Louis Louis and Coin Operated boy, have started their own indie record label ‘Dead Beats’. Dead Beats is not for profit, simply for the love of music and the motivating factor that not only were other labels not really doing it for them, but they had a group of talented music making friends that simply weren’t getting the recognition they deserved. I’ve wanted to get this interview done for a while, and it finally came together last month when I went down to Sheffield to DJ with Louis. So, without further ado, I give you Dead Beats label.
So first things first, what is deadbeats?
Louis: Well, me and Ed have picked up on the fact we have some great friends in our circle of DJing/blogging/production filled with lots of talent. Why not set up some kind of a label and get a lot more people involved in this great circle of talent we’re proud to be a part of? Therefore, Deadbeats is born.
Ed: Exactly, for us Deadbeats is just a chance to alert people to the vast amount of untapped talent there is out there. The current state of the music industry isn’t exactly conducive to bringing out new talent, so this label is an attempt to remedy that.
What made you guys want to start the label?
L: Just that really, we want more people involved in this amazing circle of talent we’re part of.
E: Apart from wanting to be the new Busy P? Just what Louis said really, trying to raise people’s awareness of all the quality producers that they might not have heard of.
What made you want to work together?
L: Me and Ed met after I asked Ed to submit some of his own music to put on my blog. He refused. Since then I think he knows it’s all just a ploy to get closer to him…
E: I told him that I’m a business, not a charity. If he wants my music, he can damn well cough up the Benjamins for it. He has a shiny wardrobe of nice clothes, which betrays the fact that he can definitely afford it. Me? I wear rags. Oil-soaked rags.
Who is going to be signed to the label?
L: Well we have two rising stars under our wing so far, Wonky Ninja aka Austin Sherman who Kissy Sell Out is currently bumming. And Screendeath aka young Ryan Thompson from Northern Ireland who is currently being bummed by Fake Blood and the like. Both show incredible talent and have that perfect attitude to production that we want to share. We believe we have the ability to get these lads recognised more and get the appreciation that they deserve!
E: Yeah, we were hugely keen to get these guys involved not just because they’re so damn good at what they do, but because, as Louis said, they’ve got entirely the right attitude about it all. No ego, just pure enthusiasm. There’s too many DJs and producers around these days who would rather spend all day arranging photoshoots for themselves than actually sitting down and putting together some good music. You won’t see Austin and Ryan spamming your Soundcloud account. You know why? Cos they’re making beats, not mailing lists…
How does Deadbeats differ from other small indie labels, and what can you offer artists that others can’t?
L: Well, me and Ed have a tight-knit group of friends in already substanstial places in electronic music including blog owners/producers/DJs that are all willing to help out and get this whole idea noticed.. The artist’s in our fam will have the opportunity to become part of a family, we plan to be a group of DJs/producers/friends that release records and DJ together everywhere. What do I mean ‘plan to be’… That’s already the case! We have the best bunch of friends and we are all part of a unique family, it just seems right to put a name on it and get us all noticed more?
E: Couldn’t put it better than that really! It’s just all about fun and enthusiasm, cheesy as it sounds. Hopefully people will recognise that!
Do you think that being based in Sheffield, the city’s rich musical history and DIY ethic is a contributing factor to wanting to start a label?
L: Well yeah we do actually, I mean we’re not trying to be like any of the city’s predecessors, but this city just has an un-written attraction to it. We have friends from Dublin to London to Newcastle that come and visit all the time and party with us because it’s a great place to be and party. There’s definitely something special about this place, we think this shows in the Deadbeats label.
E: I think one of the main influences that Sheffield has had on it’s own music scene is actually it’s size. Though it’s the fifth-largest city in the UK (I think?), it feels relatively small and close-knit. Everyone in the music scene here seems to know each other, and we’ve got some pretty good local heroes to look up to, like our good buddy Mike Forrest of Run Hide Survive. I think that knowing we had a tight, cohesive music scene behind us made us more confident that Deadbeats is going to work.
Does it have a particular ethos or mission?
L: To get these amazingly talented friends of ours noticed and to get the attention they deserve. We feel we’re doing something special here and it’s a great realisation to know we’re in positions where we can help these talented little buggers. Eventually we want the world to know us. But all we really want to do is just party with Jo Kira.
E: I’d agree, Jo Kira has been a very central figure in our ideology with Deadbeats.
When can we see the first release?
L: We’re gonna be getting Wonky Ninja out as soon as possible, looking at the next month. We’ll be releasing his EP for free to get the word out there sharpish and Screendeath is going to be on all your iPods this summer. We’re really looking forward to it, these are exciting times!
E: You can have it when it’s ready. Classic cop-out line, that!
Related Links:
Dead Beats Label Twitter
Louis Buck Twitter
Ed Trotter Twitter
