FILE 13 RECORDS TR: What differentiates your label from a major label? I think besides the clearly obvious, we fortunately have the ability to work with people we like and respect. We can actually look at music as art as opposed to merely a product that is for sale. While running a business always requires attention to a dollar amount bottom line, in our world, it needn't be the only line that we read. TR: What is the most difficult aspect of your job that a typical music fan wouldn't be aware of? I think the record buying public at large is unaware of a lot of the things that go into making records. This of course is no fault of their own. It's just that the information is rarely presented in a clean cut, open way. The sheer magnitude of time and commitment necessary to put out records and actually get behind them to assist in helping the band get some attention is a full time job. With that said, most folks that run a label are not self employed. They have day jobs. It's amazing to me the commitment some folks have to help support underground music and provide a world outside of the mainstream for people to find new music. TR: How important is it to be in a major market city, for a band and for a label, vs. being in a smaller market? I think it's important to be where you are comfortable. Good bands come from all over. It's not important to be from New York or from Boise. You should just be at home and work with bands you care about. I think obviously, a band needs different attention. They need places to play and communities that are supportive to build their art. However, a label can exist pretty much anywhere thanks to the internet and phone lines. TR: What is your favorite label? I would have to say as a model on needn't look much further than Dischord. They will forever be a positive example. TR: Do you feel "history" in your music? Does it feel like you're adding your voice to a tradition? Good question. It's easy to feel inconsequential when surrounded by so much talent in music. We feel pretty confident about our sound, and feel like we are doing a good job, but at the same time when you play to three people you don't really feel like you are making a dent. We do love music and rock in general, everynight when we play it's the some total of all past experiences, ya know? TR: How did you get into the music biz? I'm not really sure that I am in the "music biz". I'd prefer to think that I found punk many years ago and it's provided a place for me to learn and grow and create things that I may never have found without it. As far as a label goes, I don't think we see ourselves as in the biz, rather as trying to create an atmosphere for bands to work outside of that market. I'd be happy selling fewer records if I knew what we did truly push music a little further as art and provided a true alternative. TR: Do you believe that the "record" is going to become obsolete in favor of structures like the subscription system that some labels are toying with, and how do you think this change in music delivery changes the way the public looks at bands. I'm not really even interested in making assumptions on where the market of music consumption is going. It's not anything I'm really interested in. Vinyl is suffering set backs. Its an expensive format and fewer people own record players. We continue to put vinyl out when we can but only in limited quantities but even that is becoming less financially viable. As far as what will come next? i'm not sure, nor does it present any real concern in my life or our label. TR: Do artists lose credibility the more music becomes easily downloaded? I'm not sure I understand your question. Do you mean does the format provide musician's some sort of value? I would say no. The format doesnt matter in the least. You suck on cassette just as much as you suck on mp3. TR: Does music have a significant cultural value that is a necessary element in the survival in a culture like in the US? I think music is integral to any culture no matter what the nationality. It supports communication, ideas, tradition, history, innovation, etc...it's a recognizable language to the educated and non educated, it crosses most economical and socio political boundaries and perfectly represents time. My answer is yes. Life is grey and dead without music. TR: Do you believe in the theory that every band has to have a hit single in order to make it? It depends on what you percieve making it as. Does a video on MTV mean "making it"? If so, then yes, you need one sweet hit single. Does it mean being artistically challenging and innovative? Then hell no, you need stuff further away from a hit single than you've ever imagined. The key is to decide who you are and what you want and do the best to be true to that. TR: Do you believe that the independent music industry is becoming more inclusive or exclusive? Inclusive or exclusive to whom? TR: Are indie bands even the underground anymore? And if not them, who is? Discussing the underground makes an assumption that it exists. If it exists, attention to it will destroy it. I'll take the 5th. TR: What bands did the general music public miss out on in the 90's (a band that had small town popularity but big town potential)? Dear god, there are soo many out there. We just want to wish everyone the best of luck. Make good things. Learn more about File 13 Records at their website http://www.file-13.com