Small Labels and the Side Hustle Pt. 2

We started off our 2019 with our friends and their small labels, learning about what makes them tick, what success they had…and most of all, who are they outside the label. We continue that today with a few more friends, and we will let you stop on in and see what they had to say. Today features Z Tapes, Crafted Sounds, Citrus City and Father/Daughter Records.

Father/Daughter Records is owned by Jessi Frick with lots of help from Andrew Lopez, Tyler Andere, Ken Hector+ David Frick.

How many releases?

Working on FD-082 as we speak!

How long have you been running?

Started in 2009, first release came out in 2010.

Whats your day job?

I manage Girlpool, The Hotelier, Chastity Belt, Diet Cig, Mothers, IAN SWEET, Hand Habits+ The Spook School.

How do you balance the two?

Lots of deep, soothing breaths, haha. Honestly, I don’t know how I do it. I pretty much just don’t stop. I’m always available unless I’m sleeping or in the shower, always making and checking things off to-do lists, always thinking of more I can be doing for the artists I work with. My husband doesn’t work in music so having him to talk to has been really special+ a life saver.

What unexpected challenges have you faced running a label?

I would say every challenge we’ve faced has been unexpected since you won’t learn without making mistakes and most of the time, those mistakes are unavoidable+ unplanned. Something we’re struggling with right now is how to grow our brand and our artists, who we choose to work with early on in their careers, at independent retail. Streaming has been great for us because people use it as a discovery tool but how do we translate those casual listeners into customers/long term supporters? Also just trying to figure out if our model is made for traditional retail (record stores) or if our artists are better served by focusing on growing our direct to consumer base.

Whats the most important thing youd impart on folks wanting to start labels?

Do it because you love the music and want to support the artists, not for the money or attention because those last two are fleeting or very well may never come.

Whats your biggest success?

Being here, 9 years later is a HUGE milestone. Starting in the streaming boom was scary but we’ve managed to create a space where our artists can feel supported and get paid for their work!

Anything else to share?

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT MUSIC. Buy records. Buy tickets to shows. Buy merch at shows. Buy records from labels you love. Explore those labels’ discographies.

Z Tapes Records run by Filip Zemčk from Slovakia.

How many releases?

109

How long have you been running?

Since November 2013.

Whats your day job?

Part time Z Tapes, part time working in family business selling technology for the food industry.

How do you balance the two?

Try to be as effective with label as possible and try to keep everything under control. It is very hard from time to time, and sometimes it means I work in my free time.

What unexpected challenges have you faced running a label?

Financial troubles, gossiping, time management.

Whats the most important thing you’d impart on folks wanting to start labels?

Think small and wise, know what you are planning to do. Do the math!

Whats your biggest success? As a label, not necessarily a release that got big.

Keeping it alive for 5 years. Doing 109 releases.

Anything else to share?

Cassettes forever!

Citrus City run by Manuel Eduardo Lemus

How many releases?

So far up to 82!!

How long have you been running?

3 years going on to 4 end of January.

Whats your day job?

I work three jobs…2 part time jobs as a sales associate in retail stores & at night helping hand at venue Babys All right.

How do you balance the two?

Its quite difficult if I gotta be real. Any free time or off days I try to plan accordingly on what I need to get done label wise then the rest of the time I just sleep or use for self care. Or, when Im off to work I leave 2 hours earlier & use that extra hour to run to the posit office to ship orders & at times do other up keeping. If anything Ive learned to plan out my schedule which has helped do work & label smoothly (as of yet).

What unexpected challenges have you faced running a label?

Its just everyday life. Sometimes a family member dies & you cant even open your email or socials to begin label work. Or your mental health decides to take a plunge on the week you have to pack & ship 300 tape orders..at times I cant even muster up the strength to complete a simple task..so its mostly things like that & facing sometimes the wrath of angry supporters or fans & learning how to be transparent enough for them to understand, Hey this isnt a big operation I’m running here its just one person please understand.

Whats the most important thing youd impart on folks wanting to start labels?

Know your limitations, try to really understand what you want to do with it & importantly, dont get discouraged. I think the issue I always see is folks think oh well if I make a bandcamp, social media pages & release a few artists on tapes: boom were all set! to later no one buying their tapes & seeing them get bitter that no one is paying attention But theres a lot of work that needs to be done ya feel, engaging with your local community, building organic relationships with blogs & press etc I can go on. I just think people shoot for the stars too quick to come crashing down feeling jaded about the whole thing. No one will pay attention when you first do anything. I think it started to feel like people actually listened to Citrus releases around our 2nd going to 3rd year.

Whats your biggest success? As a label, not necessarily a release that got big.

The fact that I’ve inspired other brown & black kids to get involved with music, not only in the label sense, but being managers, bookers, anything in the spectrum of music. I haven’t seen many POC run labels so the fact that CC is one of the few a lot of people mention & resonates with a lot of folks means a lot to me. I just feel like people like me & my background tend to not last long & while I’ve experienced feeling burnt out & funds sometimes are low, I’m still here cranking out tapes & championing artists I love & support & my label peers too.

Anything else to share?

• labels: sign/release more black artists.
• Always remember, labels are here for support. We are nothing without the artists & listener.

Crafted Sounds is run by myself, Connor Murray.

How many releases?

23 releases

How long have you been running?

April 2016 (Started on my 18th birthday.)

Whats your day job?

I am a full-time student at the University of Pittsburgh. I have an on-campus job, and I do some remote work for a software company.

How do you balance the two?

School is first, work is second, and the label is third. I am usually doing stuff for the label late at night, early in the morning, or on Fridays when I am off. I try to see my friends and do other fun things on the weekends.

What unexpected challenges have you faced running a label?

I worked in Germany for 11 weeks this summer. I never thought I’d ever have to manage the label from another country while working, traveling, etc. It was kinda hard to balance. However, I did get the opportunity to link up with Filip from Z Tapes in Slovakia, which was awesome!

Whats the most important thing you’d impart on folks wanting to start labels?

I think people need to understand that it is very likely that most projects will not run as planned. It is also very important to stand behind the artist regardless of the album roll-out. Most importantly, there is no right way to run a label.

Whats your biggest success? As a label, not necessarily a release that got big.

I’d say my biggest success is just not giving up. I always tell people that it is not worth it unless you think about quitting everyday. I am proud to say there are more nice days than bad days.

Anything else to share?

We just started a blog on top of the whole label mess. More coming in 2019 over onblog.craftedsounds.net.