There’s been lots of activity by some prominent local record labels during the past few weeks with several new additions being made to the rosters of Sub Pop, Hardly Art, Sportn’ Life and Barsuk. Some of the names are locals, one a national indie buzz group and a few are from other countries. Since there’s been so much happening on the local label front here’s a rundown of what label signed who so you can keep up with the flurry of activity.
Sup Pop Records
Sub Pop announced the signing of two bands Monday and yesterday the label announced the signing of a third. This brings the total numbers of signings the label has announced this year to four (the other being the Head and the Heart) and a fifth signing (THEESatisfaction) has yet to be made official by the label.
The first two signings announced were London band Still Corners and Toronto band Memory House. Yesterday the label followed up that news by announcing the signing of Swedish duo Nikki and the Dove.
Sub Pop is expected to release a full-length from Still Corners this summer and a full-length from Memory House by the end of the year. There has been no announcement of a Nikki and the Dove Sub Pop release, date but the band will be at the Crocodile April 16.
Barsuk Records
Out of all the signings announced this week Barsuk might have made the biggest score by nabbing New Yorkers Cymbals Eat Guitars. The band’s last record Why There Are Mountains was considered one of the best rock debuts of 2009. Barsuk will likely get lots of attention for releasing the band’s follow-up effort since it is a highly anticipated album that’s expected to hit shelves later this year.
Hardly Art Records
Sub Pop’s sister label has been keeping busy too, adding two new names to its roster. Locals Seapony signed to Hardly Art as did Florida band Jacuzzi Boys, a group I’m almost immediately won over by because of their radical press photo. This marks the third and fourth signing by the Sub Pop imprint this year.
Seapony released a limited 7″ on UK label Double Denim last fall and Hardly Art will re-release the three tracks as a digital single March 15, followed by the band’s debut full-length LP, Go With Me, which will be released on May 31. You can see the band at the Crocodile when they open for Pains of Being Pure at Heart on April 22. The Jacuzzi Boys will enter the studio next week to record their Hardly Art debut which is slated for release later this year.
Sportn’ Life Records
Last but not least, local hip-hop label Sportn’ Life Records welcomed a new family member this week as well. Promising neo-soul duo Fly moon Royalty has been added to the label’s criminally thin roster. You can download the group’s 10-song debut record for free by clicking here.
