Here is the second installment of the What’s in a Label Series, a set of interview posts dealing with record label owners. We were lucky enough to talk to Brian Lowit, owner and founder of Lovitt Records out of the DC area. Brian has been heavily involved in the DC Scene for a number of years, on top of putting out some great great monumental records (read: Engine Down, Frodus, Sleepytime Trio, Rah Bras, Monorchid, etc.) He also happens to be a really nice person and an email buddy for sometime. Check out the interview and MP3’s below and then go to the Lovitt site and buy some music.
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1. What made you want to start a label? How did it get started?

I started Lovitt Records my second year at Guilford College. At the time, I was running a small mail order distro which was enjoyable but I decided that what I really wanted to do was put out records from bands I was interested in and who maybe did not have releases out yet. The first record was a 7″ by the D.C. band Monorchid. I had seen the Monorchid a few times and thought it was weird such an amazing band did not have anything recorded out so I just called them up on the phone and asked them if they would be interested in doing a 7″ with me. They took a chance and said yes. Everything sort of took off from there.

2. Did you have a mentor or someone in the industry that was able to guide you? if so, who was it and what advice did they give?

A lot of folks have given me a lot of advice and help a long the way. Early on, labels like DeSoto, Simple Machines and Dischord were a tremendous help. Starting out I had no idea what I was doing so I asked the local established labels a ton of questions and they were always really responsive and helpful. I’m friends with a lot of different labels and we try to help each other out. Even after all these years, I still ask other labels for advice on things from time to time. Since everyone was always so helpful to me, I always try to return the favor when labels are starting and ask for advice/help as I know what it is like starting a label and having no clue what you are doing.

3. What release or milestone are you proudest of?

I’m really proud of all the records that have come out on Lovitt and with all of the musicians I have worked with . Over the years, I have worked with so many amazing people. I’m really proud Lovitt is past the 10 year mark of being a label as when I started it, I never would have thought it would have lasted as long as it has.

4. Were there any releases you did, that you couldn’t believe didn’t sell more or didn’t do better than you expected? Why do you think?

Sure, there have been more than a few releases that I thought would have done better than they ended up doing. Some times a record gets a ton of great press, the band tours a lot and for what ever reason, the record really does not catch on which is frustrating but I never have had any regrets about putting out a record just because it did not sell as much as I thought it would have. It is really hard to guess how much a record is going to sell especially the past few years with the way everything is changing.

5. How do you feel about music blogs, aggregators and how the internet is effecting the industry?

That is a real tough question to answer. I think that music blogs and aggregators can be and are a positive thing as it helps make music more accessible and exposes more people to different types of music and new artists/bands which is a good thing. The flip side to it is that a lot of people will just search the internet and file sharing sites for what they know they all ready want and download it from a site for free and never end up buying the songs or record. I know a lot of people do download music to check it out and if they like it, they buy it which I think is a positive thing but there are also a lot of people that file share all of their music and never buy anything. I also think that music has become a bit more disposable the past few years as a lot of people are viewing music just as files they have sitting on their computer which they can just delete vs. having a physical thing they actually own. Like anything there are pros and cons to it all and its really hard to say how what is going on now will effect music a few years from now. Hopefully a balance is found though where independent labels and artists can do well and people are able to easily check out and buy new music.

6. Is there any real clear solution to declining music sales?

I’m not sure if at some point all of a sudden music sales will go back up or even stabilize. I would not even try to guess as if you asked me 5 years ago how things would be now, I would have never predicted they would be the way they are now.

7. Was there any bands that you were this close to signing and didn’t happen that you regret?

It is never worth looking back and kicking yourself over something that may or may not have worked out.

8. Do you have any guidelines to your label? Any rules you just won’t break?

Put out music that I care about by people I respect and not put out things just because they are going to make money. The label does not play many of the “games” a lot of labels do and strives to put the music and art first and not compromise on certain things as that would make Lovitt just another label. I want to be able to be proud of what the label did 20 years from now when I look back and not regret some compromise the label did for some short term gain.

9. What were your first and last releases? Any upcoming ones that you’re excited about?

First release was the Monorchid – Imposter 7”. The last release on Lovitt was Glös – Harmonium which came out on CD and is about to be issued out on vinyl. We have a ton of upcoming releases. A new Haram full length is due out this fall, a Pygmy Lush Full Length this winter, Stephen from Pinebender’s solo record, Engine Down DVD, a Lovitt Transmissions Volume 2 DVD and a bunch of other stuff that is in the early stages.

10. Any horror stories we can learn from?

Production can be a nightmare. Always make sure to get proofs of your art work and listen to you test pressings, masters before you approve anything and that you have enough lead time on projects. There are always hold ups and mistakes on stuff so you just have to make sure to double check everything and give yourself a lot of lead time as things always seem to take longer than they should.

11. Where does the name Lovitt come from?

Growing up a lot of people thought my last name was Lovitt instead of Lowit and always called me that and I thought it would be a good name for the label since it was a lot like Love It and I was putting out music I loved. If I could do it all over again, I probably would name it something different and more original. I guess at the time though I could not think of anything better.

12, Would you do this for the rest of your life if you could?

That is something I have been putting a lot of thought into recently and I’m not sure. I love doing the label and it is been a huge part of my life and I am proud of all the label has accomplished and there is still work to be done but I’m not sure if it will be something that I will want to do forever. There are just so many other things I think I would like to explore at some point in my life that at some point, I might decide to put the label on the back burner and try new things but who knows. There are worst things I could be doing with my life, that is for sure and not a day goes by that I do not feel lucky that I have been able to do this and keep it going as long as it has been.
13. How does living in DC affect the label and the music you put out?

The label could not have started or survived with out the help and support of other DC labels and the DC music scene. DC has such a great music scene and is really inspiring to be around.

14. The best thing about owning a record label? Worst?

I have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and musicians and have made some of my best friends from bands I have worked with. I have also been able to travel to some great places like Japan and Europe because of the label. I guess the worse if the hours I have to put it to keep things going and financially it can be hard.

15. Any last words?

Thanks for everyone’s support over the past 10 plus years!

VISIT THE LOVITT SITE HERE.

SOME MP3’s from LOVITT’S great back catalog:

Sleepytime Trio - Butter Scaryflies from Memory-Minus .

Four Hundred Years - Transmit Failure from Transmit Failure .

Engine Down - Slingshot from Under The Pretense Of Present Tense.

glos - employee from Harmonium .

Des Ark - If By Gay You Mean Totally Freaking Awesome, Then Yeah, I Guess It’s Pretty Gay from Battles of the Beards split with Ben Davis.

Haram - Drescher Clock from Drescher .

Lovitt Records | PO Box 100248 |Arlington VA 22210-9998