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First of all why pick Matador as a name and not for example BullFighter?
"I didn't pick the name, Chris Lombardi did, inspired by the Almodovar film
of the same name. And Bullfighter is a really stupid fucking name, what are
you thinking man!"
You have been in business for ten years. Why did you decide
to set up a label? How did you get started?
"I think we have a frequently asked questions thing on our website that
covers that one. Chris Lombardi started the label. He got started with style and
grace, things picked up at a rapid pace. A band from Scotland said "we
like your face", now he's the ruler of the human race."
What is a typical day at the office? Dressing up as Madonna singing 'Like A
Virgin'? Slurping coffee moaning that 'Life Stinks'?
"Mostly a lot of phone calls and answering thrilling questionaires like this
one. When we aren't arguing about money and contracts we listen to records
(good ones) and watch the supermodels pose on the rooftop below. Actually,
that's Donovan's office now."
This year you parted with Capitol Records. Do you see this as a sign of
the times?
"no, just a sign of us ending a working relationship that no longer worked.
In the early nineties many big labels jump at the chance of signing smaller known rockbands, thinking that they were the next thing. Now they seem to be withdrawing somehow.
well, you can't buy good taste."
What does the breakup mean for you guys?
"It means we can concentrate on selling records to people who like music and
we can spend less time promoting our bands to people who are already paid to
work on them. Fewer trips to L.A., too!"
You stated being happy being independent again. Even striking a deal with an indie distributor. Looking back were you slightly frustrated being in someone hands?
"I don't think we were exactly in anyone else's hands. It was a partnership that neither party was entirely satisfied with. Once I was in someone else's hands in a darkened movie theatre."
How does the internet affect your label?
"We've set up a website, distribute MP3's and have direct sales."
But how do you see it all affecting the independent musicscene?
"Anything that spreads information and music around without being dependent
on crummy radio stations and shitty glossy magazines is a good thing. Unless
you're using the internet equivalent of a crummy radio station or shitty
glossy magazine. I like our chances competing for eyeballs and earholes on
the internet much better than in the bricks and mortar world, but who
knows? Terrifying to think anyone is allowed to use the phrase "bricks and
mortar"."
You aren't only cybersurfing, you also continue putting out vinyl version
of the records. Why do you keep on putting them out even though they must
be a big cost for Matador?
"they look pretty and sound better than CD's. Our bands like 'em and so do
most serious music fans. If it was just about making money, Chris and I could
easily support ourselves as male models."
The last year especially you seem to be signing on acts that inhabit the
world of techno (Solex, Boards of Canada) and hip hop. Do you think not
having one sound will make it confusing for the old fans?
"ahhh, fuck the older fans. If they're so smart, how come they are confused?
Our only responsibility is to ourselves and our artists....the only thing that
makes this label great (other than the "bullfighter" name) is our willingness
to explore and exploit new sounds. Show me someone whose musical tastes
haven't changed or evolved in the past 10 years and I'll say "please put
that picture of John David Kalodoner away, he's scaring me." These records are
meant to entertain and educate whoever wants to hear them, and they should
be judged individually on their own merits. Anyone who wants Matador to be
some surrogate security blanket/identity crutch is cordially invited to blow
their brains out and leave us alone.
How do you find out about bands? I am thinking about unknown foreign
bands like Solex?
"We find out about bands the way most people do, by purchasing new records,
by talking to friends, going to shows, etc. We found out about Solex 'cause
she sent us a great cassette. That has happened to us exactly 3 times in 10
years, which means the other 20,000,000 cassettes (currently piled up in
Donovan's office) were either pretty bad or quite mediocre. Demos are not
a good way to get our attention."
When releasing a record, is the packaging as important as the plastic
disc inside?
"No. But interesting packaging gives the listener something else to think
about, something else to fondle."
Do you demand a certain style that fits with the label?
"No. We occasionally have problems with frontal female nudity, but that is
a particular hangup of mine that doctors are trying to cure."
What about other projects, like putting out books or magazines?
"Not in the pipeline, but anything is possible. Very hard to think about
publishing a magazine when there are so many good ones already out there."
Check out Matador Records' website @ www.matador.recs.com
http://www.kindamuzik.net/label/709/matador-recordings/741/
Meer op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/709
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