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First of all can you tell us more about why you set up Stickman Records. Who, when, why and where?
"The idea for Stickman Records popped up the first time in the summer of
1994. At the time we (meaning Rolf and myself) were both working in the
record industry and were responsible for Motorpsycho promotion and
marketing in Germany, due to our ties with Motorpsycho's first label,
Voices of Wonder. To make a long story short, during the course of 1994 we
got to know the guys from Motorpsycho, discovered that we had the same
opinions about the record business, labels, etc. and decided to continue
working together. One thing led to another and before we knew what hit us,
we had started up Stickman Records - the new label of our absolutely
favorite band! Our first release was in December 1994, the Wearing Yr
Smell EP, followed by the classic 'Timothy's Monster' album at the
beginning of 1995."
Why did you pick the name, is there a special story behind the name
Stickman?
"Actually Motorpsycho picked the name 'Stickman Records' for us. And yes,
there's a story behind the name - 'The Stickman' is the nickname of a
certain person that Motorpsycho know...but I'm sworn to secrecy about who
it is...."
The label was set up to promote the band Motorpsycho. How closely linked
are you guys?
"We have a very close link. The members of the band are involved in every
decision concerning Motorpsycho. It's important for them to have control
over their music and to know what's going on, and we respect that. I guess
that's why we get along so well! The label is owned by Rolf and I, but
Motorpsycho also have a say in what other bands are signed to the label, so
even if we work with other bands, you can be sure that Motorpsycho has had
something to do with it..."
You have bands coming from all over Europe: Belgium (GoreSlut) but also
from Norway (Dipsomaniacs)... how do you find these bands?
"Most of the time they find us! Gore Slut is one of the few bands that we
signed simply because we liked their demo, which their manager sent to us.
As for 35007, we were already fans of theirs. Also, one of their members
happens to be Motorpsycho's soundman, so we knew him quite well. We drove
to Enger to see them play and told them that it was high time that they
recorded a new album and that we would like to put it out. It was as
simple as that! As for the Dipsomaniacs (photo left): we licensed their record from
Progress Records in Norway, whose boss happens to be an old friend of ours,
also simply because we liked what we heard. And we're both Fireside fans,
so we bugged their management until we finally got to license their
releases for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, where they weren't
out yet. I could continue like this, because every situation is a little
bit different - but you should keep in mind that we receive tons of demos
and once in awhile one just blows us away..."
Can you describe the sound of Stickman? When signing on new bands, what
do you look for?
"I think I'm too subjective about our label to be able to define a certain
Stickman 'sound'. I know it's there, because there are people out there
who tell us that they buy everything we put out because they know they'll
like it, even if the bands aren't really similar to each other. We just
happen to have the luxury of putting out records that we personally think
are very good, so if you have a similar music taste to ours, you'll like
it. Sounds too simple, but that's as good as I can explain it...
I really wish I could define what that 'something' is that makes us sign a
band. Their music has to give us goosebumps! Once again, a very
subjective thing. First of all, we both have to agree that we want to work
with a band. Not only do we have to both totally love the music that a band
is making, but the chemistry between us and the band has to be "right" too.
We have to have the feeling that these are people that we want to work
with. Then, it has to pass the Motorpsychodelic crash-test. That's the
hard part."
Independence seems to be a very important factor for Stickman Records.
Why do you want to keep it uncommercial?
"We don't consciously keep the music we put out 'uncommercial'. Like I
said, we put out what we like. We don't get involved in the band's
songwriting, we don't insist that our bands record 'radio-compatible' songs
(although we're very happy when they do!). If we like a band enough to
work with them, we give them total 'artistic freedom' - if we let them
do what they do best, then we can do what we do best, which is selling
their records. And yes, independence is extremely important to us, so we
can do our own thing, release what records we want, when we want to release
them, etc. And even if we should have a Top 10 hit one of these years, it
wouldn't change anything - except our bank account, of course :-)"
Do you have any other activities/plans besides Stickman?
"Well, Rolf works part-time at Indigo, our german distributor, doing
exports. When I have the time, I do free-lance promotion jobs for other
labels. I also play in a band (no, you've never heard of us). We don't
have alot of time for anything except the label, but that's OK because it's
what we want to do. There's still only the two of us, with an occasional
student helping us out, so it's alot of work."
You also started expanding by setting up sublabels. Can you tell us
something more about HomeBase Communications and Sticksister Records.
"Homebase Communications is a label for more electronic-oriented bands,
anything from drum-n-bass to trip-hop. There are some good bands out there
- actual bands that play live, not just one guy behind a computer putting
together techno beats. This is mainly Rolf's baby. Sticksister is a
sublabel of Stickman Records which concentrates on more pop-oriented bands
from the german-speaking countries. The next release is by the swiss band
Favez, but it's such a great rock record that it could actually be on
Stickman!"
Any new record releases? What is Motorpsycho up to these days?
"The rest of 1999 will be quiet for us, but the year copyright will start with a
bang. The upcoming Motorpsycho album will be released at the end of
January, followed by Favez in February, Dipsomaniacs in March and Fireside
in April. Motorpsycho have been very busy in the studio recording an album
for Stickman and an EP for 'Stickman's Ruin', a collaboration between us
and Man's Ruin."
What album would be a great start to begin the Stickman-ride?
"Last year we put together a label sampler called 'Stickin it to you'. I
Think that's a pretty good way to get an idea what we're all about. It's
cheap too!"
Check out Stickman Records' website @ www.stickman-records.de
http://www.kindamuzik.net/label/709/stickman-records/749/
Meer op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/709
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