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

EXOTIC FEVER RECORDS:

I spoke to Katy O. about her label Exotic Fever. Exotic Fever is from the DC area and puts out some really great independent bands, ranging from melodic girl fronted post punk to pretty aggressive DC style rock. Katy was great and got back to me sooo quickly, she’s my new best friend. Please check out her releases down at the bottom, free Mp3s and her website. And buy some of her fantastic music.

1. What made you want to start a label? How did it get started?

I had a bunch of friends in bands, as I was, that I saw have really stupid and bad experiences with labels. They did not have people who believed in them giving their attention and energy to the releases in ways that I thought made sense. My friend Bonnie who was my bandmate at the time in a former band Bald Rapunzel ended up starting Exotic Fever, for a release that did not have a home. She roped me in, which was easy to do because I had been interested. Now, I run the label solely.

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?

Kim Colletta, Brian Lowit, Jenny Toomey and Ian MacKaye have all been tremendous role models and mentors for me. I got a lot of advice on what manufacturing to do with, how to manage distribution, and so forth.

3, What release or milestone are you proudest of?

We just hit our 30th release. I can’t believe it and I am thrilled.

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?

The Sinister Quarter broke up before the band fully got to realize its potential. They only played one show with the CD I think, or a handful of them. It is a fantastic release and I don’t regret it at all, but I do wish more people had gotten to hear it. We still have it, hint hint! www.exoticfever.com

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

I like the idea that people can hear music from around the world easily. However, I think there is something to be said for listening to CDs in the order the songs were recorded, or viewing a record with the artwork the artist intended for it. I also think that regional flavor is getting lost in this new climate. In the past, you could look to scenes and regions to see the distinctive sounds that were often being cultivated. Culture is being eroded in capitalist society. We don’t know yet the new cultures that will emerge, and what will guide them. I feel confident in what I am attracted to and what I can build with my label. I trust my own judgment which I think is key to running a kickass label. I believe in every release we have ever put out. How many people can say that? The day I can’t say it is the day I need to quit.

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

Supporting cultural work that is being done locally. Work on shows. Go to shows. Make interesting packaging. Do everything with passion. Forge your own artistic path and find ways to incorporate the technology. I just put our first set of releases on itunes, and I am putting my whole catalogue up there. It was strange but I know it was a step I needed to take. I am finding how to stay firm to the path I am interested in and still remain relevant and sustainable.

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

Fuck regret. Nope.

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

It could be the greatest band on earth but if I didn’t think the people in it were amazing, strong, committed, interesting individuals as well, I couldn’t do it with the same passion or conviction. This label is a family to me. It is like curating an art exhibition. It is a collection of people and work that I think are beautiful and that keep me afloat. That inspire and move me to act. These people and this music are my fuel. I also insist on working with artists that are able to respect women/queer people/people of color/anyone relegated to the margins by mainstream, corporate America. Of course this is a tricky one. None of us are perfect. But I want to at least, at the very minimum, be around people that don’t freak out to have conversations about privilege, about music as a catalyst for social change, about building community, freedom of expression, and healthy youth development.

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

First release – Bonnie put out the Halo Project ep. On August 28th I am putting out Pash’s “The Best Gun” and New Idea Society’s “The World is Bright and Lonely.” We have done more to prepare for these two releases than ever before, and I think it shows. Both records are incredible. I can’t wait.

10. Any horror stories we can learn from?

Uh. Maybe ask bands if they are planning on staying together for a period of time after you release the cd. But even then, nothing is certian.

11. Where does the name come from?

The idea is that we support music that is rare, precious, and infectious.

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

No, I have a job I am passionate about at an organization Men Can Stop Rape. I might one day spend more time on the label, but only if that is what growth demands. I think music flourishes with organic growth.

13. How does living in DC affect the label and the music you put out?

I have the highest caliber mentors any person could imagine. My relationship to my city is the single greatest love affair of my life. I have been supported, nurtured and encouraged to flourish here, with music, activism, and leadership. It is my hope that through my own work I can offer that back to people I work with and encounter.

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

Best – pride of being a momma 30 times over, for each release. Worst – debt, debt, debt. Working on business-esque levels with close friends can also be difficult at times.

15. Name some of the bands that you have worked with:

mass movement of the moth, 1905, pash, the sinister quarter, kathy cashel, gina young, new idea society, wrong day to quit, eulcid, hope and anchor, des ark, bellafea, tornavalanche, tight phantomz, del cielo, rachel jacobs, liza kate, the halo project, half light, ricky fitts, andrea lisi and homage to catalonia

16. Any last words?

Thank you for doing this! Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested in starting a label. Or, check out Simple Machines Guide to Putting Out a Record at Insound. It was one of the greatest resources I ever found starting out!

FREE MP3s:

1905 – Fall from Voice .

Mass Movement of the Moth – Crimps In Ties from Outerspace .

Pash – Four Straight Days from Kingwood .

New Idea Society – Drawbridge Kid from The World is Bright and Lonely .

EXOTIC FEVER’S SITE. ORDER THESE AND MORE RECORDS THERE.

exotic fever records | po box 297 | college park, md 20741-0297