Tag: Bad Timing Records

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The beauty and simplicity of being transparent with your fans

There used to be a belief in music that part of rock and roll’s allure was its mystery. Artists like Led Zeppelin and The Beatles were seen as being above the average human, somehow existing among us without being one of us, but those days have long since passed. Now that virtually everyone is connect through the internet there are very few elite celebrities or brands that can get away with not engaging their following on a near constant basis. Some see this as being problematic because it has made it necessary for artists and brands to focus more time than ever before on marketing, but others, including us, see the it as an opportunity to established a deeper connection with consumers that can be sustained for years, if not decades or longer.

Bad Timing Records is no stranger to mentions on our blog, and today they proved yet again why they are setting the standard for how young indie label engage with consumers in the modern day. With a busy fall slate on the horizon, the nearly three year old label has turned to fans and consumers to ask for help, and they’ve done so with a sale unlike any we have seen as of late. Here’s what the company’s co-founder, Thomas Nassiff, wrote on the official sale page:

Since we launched Bad Timing Records, Zack and I have made a conscious effort to keep ourselves honest, transparent and straightforward when communicating to our customers. We tell you guys when we’re experiencing delays at the pressing plant; we answer questions on Twitter and message boards about why a certain record costs a certain price, or why our shipping rates change, things like that. We’re a small business, so we don’t have too much to share – but I like to think that if there’s something you want to know about BTR, and you ask us, we’ll probably tell you unless it’s a little too confidential in terms of keeping a level head when working with art and artists.

We’re not launching this sale because we’re celebrating spring or because we do big seasonal sales all the time. Historically, we’ve really only ever done one big sale (a 40% off weekend-long thing a few months back), and that was out of character for us. We’re launching this sale because we need some cash flow to pay for two big releases that we’ll be putting out this fall. One of them is a really, really,really impressive sophomore full-length album and the other is a secret.

When you run a record label that makes most of its living off selling physical products, and when you run a record label that makes an effort to seek out and release music by bands that we believe in and love but won’t necessarily make our bank account overflow, you go through highs and lows in your revenue streams. When we launch a big pre-order or announce a big vinyl release, we get a high amount of income. And as soon as we make back the money we spent on the release, we give at least half of all the profits to the artists we’re working with. We’re very proud to say that, to date, Bad Timing Records has never been late or faulty on delivering a royalty payment to any of its artists, and we’ve never been late on paying any of the independent artists, publicists, videographers, photographers, etc., that we’ve been fortunate enough to hire.

This modest business model leads to lulls in revenue when we don’t have a lot of releases. Recently, we’ve wrapped up an ambitious, year-long project releasing six 7" splits with Kevin Devine and a cast of friends and fellow songwriters; we’ve released the debut full-length from a young New Jersey angry-pop band named ROMP; and we’ve continued to promote full-length releases from Pentimento, Mansions, Lydia and Kevin Devine, and represses of 12" EPs from Knuckle Puck. Last year, we put out big EPs from Head North and All Get Out, and we’re happy to see our small family of bands continue to grow and be happy in the art they’re making.

We want to keep doing this – every dollar we’ve ever made as a label has been put back into another release, and Zack and I have never paid ourselves a buck for doing this – but at the moment, we’re asking you for a little bit of help. We’re not out here begging or anything; the label isn’t about to close its doors if we don’t sell X-hundred albums during this sale. We’re not going to do a Kickstarter or a Go-Fund-Me or anything like that, either. We didn’t do that to start our label, and we won’t do it now. All we’re saying is – if there’s a Bad Timing release you’ve considered picking up in the past but for some reason have held off on it, chances are that you’ll find it with a pretty significant discount on this page. Consider adding it to that IKEA shelf you keep your records on. You can check out the full details of what’s available on this page in the “Pressing Information” section below.

You can also head over to our Bandcamp profile if you’re less of a touchy-feely person and more into digital stuff, where everything is currently available for pay-what-you-want.

Bad Timing Records is going to turn three years old this July. Zack and I have already seen the label grow into something larger than we anticipated, and we hope to continue growing it and putting out releases by bands we really like. We’ve been astounded by the support we receive regular from fans of the label and fans of our bands, and we hope you guys will all dig what we’re putting out through the rest of 2016.

Click here to view the sale and read about the various bundles being offered.

No one would have questioned Bad Timing’s motives if they had chosen to use a crowdfunding platform to ease their financial burdens, but by taking a far more traditional and direct approach to engaging the audience they’ve found a genuine way to make fans feel as if the fate of the company is in their hands. In many ways, it really is.

When you’re faced with the decision of how to tackle the challenges that stand between you and where you wish to be or what you hope to do remember that there is no better approach than honesty. Go to your fans, and tell them what is you need, as well as why you need it. The fact you have any career at all is due to the fact they care, and they likely want to see you continue to do whatever it is you do. By asking fans to help you create an opportunity for engagement and collaboration with your audience that can be rewarding in many ways. Don’t resort to third party services unless you have to, and even then  – stay transparent.

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Monday Motivation: Romp

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

The best music has the ability to transport us from wherever we are on this spinning rock we call home and place our feet in the shoes of another. Be it a bird in the sky or a first date at a punk rock show, music offers us perspectives and experiences in life that we may otherwise never be able to experience. For a few minutes, or maybe even just a few seconds, music allows us to shed the trappings of our skeletal cages and explore the endless possibilities of the imagination.

Romp, hailing from same New Jersey stomping ground that gave bands The Gaslight Anthem and Thursday their start, offer listeners the chance to view life through their eyes. Lead by vocalist and keyboardist Madison Klarer, the group blurs the lines between punk, indie rock, and revivalist emo to deliver anthem tales of love, life, exploration, and heartache with deeply personal lyrics that all but reach through the speakers and grab you by the collar. Like the influential bands that hail from their hometown, Romp find relatable in the minute details of existence. They find the simple beauty of a an everyday moment and through doing so create art that can and often will stop you in your tracks, or in the midst of yet another text, and demands you not only pay attention, but fully submit to the sonic adventure they wish to share.

Listening to Departure From Venus, the band’s full-length debut out this month on Bad Timing Records, is akin to sharing memories, problems, and aspirations with a close friend over coffee in the dead of morning or night. You know, when the sky is as quiet as the city streets and for a brief span of time you feel as if you and your friend are the only two people on the planet? This is album is like that, only in in musical form. Departure From Venus is a crash course on the band, its members, and who those members are as individuals channeled through anthemic choruses and hypnotic melodies meant to move your feet just as much as your soul. You could argue that other albums accomplish similar feats for their creators, and you may be right, but none of them hum with the emotional intensity or lyrical whimsy present in every note shared by Romp. This is their adventure, and they are guiding us as only they know how to do.

All of this musical magic would make a lot more sense if it had come from a band with years of shared memories and experiences behind them, but that is not the case with Romp. Two years ago no one in Romp knew the people who would soon be their bandmates, and it’s only because of a chance meeting through Tinder that the band even had a chance at being forged into existence. The fact their artistic chemistry mixes as well as it does at such a young age, both as individuals and a group, would be considered a miracle if not for the profound dedication and work ethic shared by the group’s members. You cannot find a person in alternative music who knows of Romp and does not swear by their talent. People have been cheering for this group long before they were being promoted by one of the hottest young alternative labels in music, and that fact speak entirely to their talent which, at the end of the day, is what always matters most.

As you head into this week, make time to experience Departure From Venus and allow yourself to fully engage with what you hear pouring through your speakers. Put down your phone, close your laptop, pour some coffee, and lose yourself in everything that Romp has to share. Their music, while riddled with angst, is as beautiful as anything laid to tape in the last year. It’s a sudden rush of pure energy and excitement for life, delivered through music, that will lift your spirits and make you think differently about the world around you, as well as how you deal with any hurdles in your way. Romp provides a soundtrack for self-acceptance that begs the listeners to embrace their every flaw with the same confidence as they do their strengths, and the best part of it all is that they’re only just getting started.

James Shotwell is the Digital Marketing Manager for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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FEATURE: Our 10 Favorite Albums Of 2015

After more than half a decade in music we at Haulix have finally decided to join in on the ‘Best Of’ conversations that happen each and every year around this time. We are in the unique position of having access to a lot of great music, far more than most could ever consume in a single calendar year, and we never take that opportunity for granted. We knew when we started this blog that we would likely begin to share our favorites at some point down the line, and after discovering a variety of albums we felt strongly about over the last several months we figured December 2015 was as good a time as any to join the conversation on who had the best records of the year.

Now, just like with any list, our picks for the best records of 2015 are fairly subjective. No two members on our team have the same taste in music, but we all do our best to keep an open mind whenever someone comes into work with an album they demand we hear. Not every recommended release is a hit, but the ones that are end up being played on repeat for weeks, if not months, while we work. Those same records often become something our staff enjoys outside of the office, as well as the motivation behind the concerts they choose to attend. If music is indeed our life, and we certainly claim that is true, then the records that follow could very well be considered the soundtrack to the last year of our company. These are the records that motivated us, celebrated with us, and helped us focus whenever we fell on hard time. These albums were, and continue to be, an extension of our team, and we hope one or more can make a positive impact on your life as well.

So please, take a little time away from work and whatever chores await you at home to browse our picks for the best albums of 2015. We have included buy links, stream links, and even embedded some of our favorite songs so you have a better idea why each release made this list. If you love something, or even if you hate everything, please leave a comment or tweet us your thoughts. We’d love to read about your favorite records as well, so don’t be afraid to share links to any lists or columns you may have posted. We’ll read as many as we can.

10. Pentimento – I, No Longer (Buy / Stream)

The kings of heartbreaking indie punk, Pentimento truly outdid themselves with their Sophomore release. Exploring the end of a relationship, as well as the journey to rediscovering yourself that often follows, this Bad Timing Records release was on repeat in our offices throughout September, October, and November.

9. Jeff Rosenstock – We Cool? (Buy / Stream)

The longer you work in music, the more you begin to appreciate storytellers who write songs about their adventures in the industry. We Cool? is a collection of stories and memories from the mind of Jeff Rosenstock littered with imagery and encounters that should ring familiar to any music professional. SideOneDummy, the label behind the release, has always been a source of unabashed punk music, but something about this particular album feels extra special. If you can make it through “You, In Weird Cities” without dancing in your seat or reminiscing about journeys from yesteryear you are a far stronger person than any one of us.

8. Parkway Drive – Ire (Buy / Stream)

One of only two heavy releases to make this list, Ire marked a bold step forward for Australian metalcore favorite Parkway Drive. The band’s last few releases have been riddled with growing pains, but none of that appears present on this release. Parkway have finally transitioned from their metal roots into a far more rock-driven sound that, coupled with the brute strength of vocalist Winston McCall, delivers a knockout blow to anyone listening. If this record doesn’t get your blood flowing in the morning, you might be dead.

7. Chris Stapleton – Traveler (Buy / Stream)

Stapleton pretty much stole the Country Music Awards back in November with this release, which helped to further establish the legendary songwriter’s presence as a solo artist, but we have been following his efforts for the better part of 2015. Traveller is a collection of songs like no other released this year, blending covers and originals to create a portrait of a life in music, as well as the sacrifices required to maintain it. We have no idea where Stapleton will take his career in the years to come, but right now the sky is the limit.

6. Future – DS2 (Buy / Stream)

We honestly thought we would have more hip-hop releases on this list than this LP, but when it came time to rank the records that left the biggest impression on our team Future was the only rapper to make the cut. DS2 arrived like a nuclear bomb at the height of summer, bursting with street anthems and potential radio hits to spare. There is not a single song on this record or its extended deluxe edition that we would recommend someone skip. Front to back, back to front, everything about this release is worthwhile. 

5. One Direction – Made In The AM (Buy / Stream)

By now you have no doubt heard the rumors that One Direction will likely be going on hiatus in early 2016. If this is true, then Made In The AM is likely the last new material we will hear from the group for quite some time, if not the last record they ever release. That scenario places a lot of pressure on AM to be something special, and thankfully for us Directioners the group has delivered what could very well be the catchiest and most diverse release in their history. If we never see another new album from 1D, at least Made In The AM will be around to provide us with great hooks, wonderful melodies, and a sense of endless youth that is far too rare in music today.

4. Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material (Buy / Stream)

Have you ever discovered an artists after they already had a few albums or big singles and wanted to kick yourself for not hopping on their bandwagon sooner? This scenario perfectly summarizes how we felt after hearing Pageant Material for the first time earlier this year. Musgraves is a country artist first and foremost, but this record flirts with the world of pop so often it’s a damn shame that Top 40 hasn’t picked up the singles. In a time where it seems every artist, regardless of genre, is trying to cash in on the same handful of trends again and again, Musgraves is carving a path entirely her own that is only growing more and more exciting with time.

3. Stray From The Path – Subliminal Criminals (Buy / Stream)

Some albums are great because they comfort you when your sad or otherwise feeling down. Other records are great because they bring a sense of joy or boundless love into your life. Still other records, such as Subliminal Criminals, hit home because they touch on topics that are important to you while relaying the aggression and frustration you feel towards them. Stray From The Path have never been a band to bite their tongue when it came to discussing any topic, but on this release they truly deliver a no holds barred take on life in the alternative music scene, as well as the world at large. 

2. Drew Holcomb And The Neighbors – Medicine (Buy / Stream)

It should be considered a crime that Drew Holcomb And The Neighbors continue to fly under the national radar year after year. Some call their music adult contemporary, but we respectfully choose to disagree. The sound Drew Holcomb and his bandmates produce is a perfect combination of American folk and classic country, with just a dash of rock. Medicine, the album they released in January of this year, feel like something Tom Petty might have released thirty years prior, and we mean that in the best possible way. The entire records plays like scenes from a life lived to the fullest extent, with dream chasing and romance around every corner. If you need a road trip record for your holiday travels, this should be it.

1. Leon Bridges – Coming Home (Buy / Stream)

We are not awarding anyone an ‘Artist Of The Year’ title, but if we were Leon Bridges would also be found at the top of that list. Having risen through the underground ranks to become an international sensation in under a year’s time, Bridges spent the majority of 2015 criss-crossing the globe on an endless promotional tour for Coming Home that found him wining over crowds of every size. When you hear the record, it’s not hard to understand why this has all happened so quickly for the twenty-something. Bridges channels the sound and look of Sam Cooke through a classic Motown sound that makes for catchy, often quite simplistic music that is perfect for dancing, mixtapes, radio play, and everything else in between. Coming Home is a timeless record in an age where most art is considered almost immediately disposable, and it’s only the first step of what we hope will be a very long and creative career for Leon Bridges. If you only listen to one album on this list, please make it Coming Home. 

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Monday Motivation: Pentimento

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

There is something ever so slightly terrifying about an album that touches on something deeply personal to you as an individual. On the one hand, it’s comforting to know someone else can relate to what feels like an impossibly unique scenario, but on the other hand it means you may have to comfort feelings or fears you would otherwise prefer to avoid. This is why many view music as some kind of cure all for anything weighing on you emotionally, and it most certainly is, but just because something can help you doesn’t mean you are always ready to deal with whatever has been pulling you down. Only the absolutely best music can cut through the noise telling you to keep running from yourself, forcing you to turn towards the harsh light of reality, and that is exactly what occurs when the sound of Buffalo natives Pentimento pours through your stereo.

I, No Longer is the album Pentimento fans have been waiting for the band to create since their debut EP, Wrecked, made waves in the alternative underground nearly half a decade back. It’s an album the shares the perspective of young men who have long crossed the cultural threshold of adulthood while clinging fiercely to the dreams they’ve had since they were teens. If everything before this recording was about the struggle to be something you can call an actual person then this record deals with the need to discover the best version of yourself and work to become that thing, whatever it may be. You may think you know where your life is supposed to lead, but part of growing older is accepting the fact there are actually million different possibilities for your life, and you only have so much control over which one comes to fruition. You can give your all in pursuit of what you believe to be your true calling, offering the world the best creation you can possibly forge, but that in no way guarantees success or longterm financial sustainability. The reasons for this are as numerous as the stars in the sky, ranging from public opinion to luck of the draw, but when I, No Longer plays Pentimento makes it known that it’s okay to feel helpless at times. Everyone does, and that’s perfectly okay.

When I initially discovered Pentimento I thought songwriter Mike Hansen, who recently guested on Inside Music, was someone who had been shadowing my life. His ability to create metaphors on love, life, and the struggle to make your dreams something more than fiction cut through the bullshit in my life and struck a chord somewhere deep in my soul. The first time I met him I told him as much, citing how the group’s Wrecked EP made me feel like someone understood what it was like to have an engagement dissolve, and Mike shot me a look of surprise that lingers with me today. He may only be a few months younger than me, but at that point in our lives he hadn’t been involved in a relationship that had become quite as serious as mine. The things he was dealing with when writing the songs on Wrecked happened years prior to the record’s release, and though they did deal with broken relationships his love life had little semblance to my own. Still, for whatever reason, the material on Wrecked touched on something I had been doing my best to avoid. I thought I could call the dissolution of my engagement a failed attempt at happiness and move on, but when I heard Wrecked I knew there was more I needed to process. I didn’t deal with everything right away, but that record did push me in the direction I needed to go to find a satisfactory resolution.

I, No Longer is a lot like Wrecked in that the reasons it connects with me has almost nothing to do with the experiences that inspired Mike to lay pen to paper. We’re both trying to come to terms with the fact our dreams of a career in music may never reach the heights we once thought possible, but despite all the signs telling us things may eventually plateau we continue to give our all day in and day out. We have to, if only because there is nothing else we believe ourselves capable of doing as well as we play our roles in the modern music business. We might not be where we wanted to be at this point, but we’re both closer than we ever have been before, and on I, No Longer you hear Pentimento taking account of everything that has transpired to help them reach this point. This in turn causes you to reflect, and when you’re closer to thirty than twenty it’s quite shocking to realize just how many sacrifices have been made in the pursuit of something you may never achieve.

The reason I chose I, No Longer for this week’s Monday Motivation is because I think everyone in the industry needs to make time for reflection in their daily lives. Anyone who has ever attempted to be anything in the entertainment business has only been able to do so by making sacrifices in other areas of their lives. At the time, these sacrifices can be written off as something necessary in order to get ahead, but as you grow older you realize there is a lot more to life than simply getting ahead. There is a whole world outside music, and if you don’t take time to experience it you can lose yourself, as well as your connection to the people who care about you the most, before you even know you’ve made a mistake. Life moves fast and it never slows, not for anyone, so we all have to take it upon ourselves to refocus our energy on a daily basis. Be honest with yourself about your position in life, and ask yourself what needs to be done to become a better version of who you are today. I, No Longer can and will motivate you to have this discussion, but making real change is still on you. I believe in you though, and so does Pentimento.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Inside Music Podcast #44 – Mike Hansen (Pentimento)

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Pentimento drummer and songwriter Mike Hansen to discuss his band’s upcoming album. Along the way, James and Mike get sidetracked with discussion of growing up, the cost of maintaining a dream, and how to cope with the uncertainty of your own future. It’s an open and honest conversation about life in the music business today, and we are thrilled to be able to share it with you here. Pentimento’s new album, ’I, No Longer,’ arrives October 23 via Bad Timing Records.

The music you hear in this episode is “Small Talk For Strangers” by Pentimento. The song can be found on the band’s new album, I, No Longer, which can be ordered here.

You may already know this, but ‘Inside Music’ is now available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

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Inside Music Podcast #32 – Brandon Stasi (Sudden Suspension)

Hey there! Welcome to our blog. We thank you for finding time in you busy schedule to spend a few minutes on our site. The post you’re about to enjoy is the latest installment in our popular podcast series, Inside Music. If you like what you hear, the entire catalog of episodes can be found and enjoyed through iTunes. Subscriptions and reviews are always appreciated.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found onTwitter and Facebook.

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Sudden Suspension vocalist Brandon Stasi to discuss his band’s promising and fast-moving career in music. Sudden Suspension recently announced their decision to sign with Bad Timing Records, and James asks Brandon a number of questions related to the band’s decision to sign, as well as what they have planned in the months and years ahead. If you love pop punk, or if you just want to learn a bit about how a label can impact a band life in a positive way, make sure not to miss this conversation.

The music you hear in the intro to ‘Inside Music’ this week is “Past Tense” from Sudden Suspension. You can learn more about that song, as well as the album it hails from, on Bandcamp.

You may already know this, but ‘Inside Music’ is now available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

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Inside Music Podcast #14 – Zack Zarrillo (PropertyOfZack)

Hello, everyone! We are switching things up this week in order to provide you with a new episode of Inside Music more than a full day in early. The reason for this move will hopefully become clear as you stream the episode, as the majority of the conversation revolves around something major that will take place in less than a week’s time. It’s because of this fast-approaching event that we moved the release of this episode up a day, but if the response is bad we promise to never break schedule again.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, PropertyOfZack founder Zack Zarrillo stops by to discuss the latest developments in his professional life. Zack has appeared on the show before, but since that time he has made the incredible (and possibly insane) decision to reboot his beloved music blog, which gave us the perfect excuse to chat once more. He also shares insight on the money side of blogging, as well as his plans for Bad Timing Records in 2015. All in all, it’s a big chat, but also one of our favorites to date.

The music you hear in the intro to ‘Inside Music’ is provided by San Diego, California folk punk group Sledding with Tigers. You can learn more about their work on their official website.

You may already know this, but ‘Inside Music’ is now available on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

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Inside Music Podcast #13 – Thomas Nassiff (Bad Timing Records)

Hello, everyone! We told you earlier this week that we were not slowing our efforts for one second, and today we’re thrilled to share the second to last episode of INSIDE MUSIC that will debut in 2014. This conversation was one we had long hoped to have, but we had no idea it would develop as quickly as it did.

This site exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell chats with Thomas Nasiff, co-founder of Bad Timing Records. Thomas and James have known one another through their work as music bloggers, but this is the first time the two of them have shared a real conversation. They discuss Thomas’ early life in Florida, his decision to launch Bad Timing, the bromance he shares with Zack Zarrillo, and a whole lot more. This is a must-hear podcast for anyone interested in working in music, and especially those who hope to one day launch a record label.

The music you hear in the intro to ‘Inside Music’ is provided by San Diego, California folk punk group Sledding with Tigers. You can learn more about their work on their official website.

We mentioned this at the beginning, but ‘Inside Music’ is now on iTunes! Click here to subscribe.

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Industry Spotlight: Emily Hakes (Lame-O Records)

Hello, everyone! We have been waiting to released this interview for a few days, but transcriptions sometimes take longer than expected. We finished today and thought it best to go ahead and push it out right away. Double post Tuesday, anyone?

This blog exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

It’s been a while since we featured an up and coming industry talent who is somehow managing to juggle multiple high profile projects while maintaining an impressive GPA. Emily Hakes hails from the thriving city of Philadelphia with a passion for music that has been developing since her early teens. The world probably should have known she would be an industry lifer when her first show was Van’s Warped Tour 2007, but here we are seven years later and she’s just now starting to get the notoriety she deserves. From her work at Bad Timing and Lame-O records, to her fast developing skills as a publicist, Emily is quickly ascending to the heights of young music professionals everyone aspires to reach.

Last week, I was able to connect with Emily over the phone for a half hour conversation about her life and experiences up to this point. I knew next to nothing about her going in, aside from the various project I knew her to be connected with, and walked away feeling as if I made a very important new friend. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Emily will be able to accomplish anything she sets her mind to in this industry, and I am incredibly excited to see her achieve her various goals in the years to come.

If you would like to learn more about Emily’s adventures in the industry, make sure you follow her on Twitter. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.

H: Hello, Emily. How are you this afternoon?

E: I’m doing well. Just started my day a few hours ago. So far, so good.

H: I know we’ve tried to schedule this a couple time now, so I am happy we finally able to connect. How is the weather in Philadelphia today?

E: It’s actually great today. It’s been bad this week. It’s been rainy and humid a lot, but today it’s sunny.

H: To be honest, I’m fairly excited about this interview. We have covered the people you work with in the past, but you’re someone who has been making moves in this industry under the radar for a while at this point and I think it’s high time you get credit for all you do. Tell me, when do you think you first fell in love with music?

E: I think I started listening to music of my choosing around 14 or 15. I started with a few records I got from a friend’s older sibling that I listened to a lot, as well as Paramore and Fall Out Boy type stuff because I was young. The records that stuck with me were Motion City Soundtrack, Brand New, and Death Cab For Cutie, who are still some of my favorite bands today. I would say I got my start in pop punk music, but those bands carried my interest over to other things.

H: Falling for music is something most people do at one point or another in life, but taking that passion and attempting to transition it into a career is fare more rare. I don’t want to jump too far ahead in your story, but can you recall a time when you first started considering the possibilities of a career in entertainment?

E: It’s kind of a funny story. I go to Drexel University now, but before that I was in high school. I went to a college fair and they had pamphlets for the Music Industry program at Drexel, which happened to have a summer program with it. That was something I had never heard of before. I loved music, but I lived in the suburbs and had never considered it as something people did for a living. Reading that set me on the path to pursue the industry.

H: Interesting. We usually do some basic music history questions and I’m realizing now we skipped right over them. Let’s fit one in: Do you remember the first concert you attended?

E: I think my first concert was Warped Tour 2007. I don’t think I went to any events before that with my parents, and if I did I do not remember them. I saw All Time Low, Hawthorne Heights, and a few others. I don’t know that there was a band I really wanted to see. My friend was going and there were a few bands I knew who were there. I wasn’t completely into the world of punk yet, so it was something I did mostly just because I thought it would be fun. It was definitely a weird first concert.

H: You mentioned Drexel University. You’re still enrolled now, correct? I believe you’ve only got a short while left to go.

E: I’m in my senior year now. I graduate in March.

H: As someone who has already accomplished a lot in their young career, would you encourage aspiring industry professionals to attend college?

E: I’ve got a weird relationship with that kind of question. I know that I probably wouldn’t be doing a lot of the things I’m doing today without going to this school, but it’s not necessarily because of the program. It’s more the people I met here and the environment we’re in. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going to school for something like this due to the cost of higher education, but at the same time – if you’re in the suburbs and need a way into the city it’s not a bad way to go. So I don’t hate the idea of going to college, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for everyone. It’s more about the relationships.

H: Okay, so you enter school and then about a year ago two big things happen: You have an internship with SideOneDummy and you launch your own label, Lame-O Records, with Eric Osman. Which came first?

E: Technically, SideOne came first. Lame-O was started by Eric, who is one of my best friends, and he started it on his own to help Modern Baseball put out their album. When he was doing this, I was giving him advice and helping, but I wasn’t technically working at Lame-O because it wasn’t really a business. Then right before I left for LA to do the SideOne internship he asked me to really be a part of it. I said yes, entered the partnership, went to LA, and then when i came back I really dug deep into the Lame-O stuff.

H: Let’s start there. What inspired you to apply for SideOneDummy?

E: That is one of my favorite record labels. It’s one of the first labels that I knew of because they had The Gaslight Anthem, and they continue to be one of my favorite bands. I wanted to know more about the label and people who put it out, so I dug into their artists and discovered people like Chuck Ragan, Fake Problems, and so on. They were one of the first labels I connected with like that, and from then on I kept up with them. For a while I was going to work with Zack on Bad Timing’s first release, but then I saw S1D put up something and I decided to apply. When they called, I talked to Zack and he supported me. He put me in contact with Jamie Coletta, who is amazing, and things came together from there.

H: What do you think was the biggest lesson you learned while doing your internship?

E: I learned a lot. Jamie is incredibly good at her job, and she taught me the basics of how things are done. On top of that, she taught me one of the most important things that I needed to know about email, and that is that it is your job to follow-up with people. There’s nothing wrong with sending a couple of emails, people get it, and that’s something she taught me.

H: Do you have any advice for others thinking of starting a label?

E: It’s a stupid and cliche answer, but you just have to do it. Everyone has reservations when it comes to starting something new, but it’s important that you get past that and just do it. It’s not as hard as it seems, and you will understand that once you just do it. Everything I have been a part of, both Lame-O and Bad Timing, came from people just doing something they wanted to do.

Whatever you think your idea is, trust that it is a good one and try it.

H: I want to fit in a little discussion about the other label you work with, Bad Timing Records. They’re a bit newer than Lame-O, and right now they have a lot of stuff going on. How did you initially get involved with the label?

E: Zack went to school with me. I kind of mentioned it earlier, but before the SideOneDummy internship I had spoken to him about working for Bad Timing. I was going to do that until S1D came along, and then when I got back they told me their horror stories from trying to pack their first release. We talked and that’s where things started. As the business grew I began taking on more things.

H: Is working with Bad Timing that different than Lame-O?

E: I think it’s pretty different. It’s similar in that they’re both starting up and we encounter similar issues at times, but Thomas and Zack have more industry experience and know a bit more about the music business. Lame-O is a bit more relaxed, and we are figuring things out as we go along. I do similar jobs for both, even though I do have more control at Lame-O. We both have a lot of ambition.

H: After all you have accomplished, what are your current career goals?

E: I still want to do a lot. On a professional level, I want to have another big record with Lame-O to help make us a powerhouse. I want us to be a real label and not the kind of local thing it is now. I’m also really focusing on trying to make PR my career, as Lame-O doesn’t pay me anything. I’m hoping to get involved with agencies after graduation, and overall I want to improve at everything I do. I think I still have a long way to go.

H: Out of curiosity, do you have any free time left? It seems that between two labels and school you keep fairly busy.

E: I have more now than I did before. The last few years I was also working a food service job in addition to the labels, so that was pretty crazy. I make just enough, or close to enough now through our efforts to cover my rent and needs.

H: Do you still believe music is the industry you want to work in for the foreseeable future?

E: Yea, that’s definitely the goal. I like working in it. I know some people get worn out in the music industry, but that hasn’t happened to me. If anything, I listen to more music now and get more excited than ever before. I haven’t gotten jaded yet or anything, but then again I’m still young.

H: I know we’ve talked a bit about advice already, but I’d like to tap into your well of knowledge once more. Do you have any additional insight to offer aspiring music professionals about making their way in this industry?

E: To get started, go somewhere cool. Go where something is happening and start to make friends. Don’t make it about business up front, just network and meet people who are doing cool things. Develop ideas, work together, and act on the best material. There’s not much more to it.

H: That’s all I have for right now. Before I let you go, are there any final thoughts or ideas that you would like to share with our readers?

E: Bad Timing just released a new 7” with Kevin Devine, which I think is really awesome. They also have a Knuckle Puck EP, which is doing incredibly well. Lame-O doesn’t have anything this month, so nothing for that. On the PR side, I’ve been working with a band called Hurry and they’re great. Everyone should check that out.

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Inside Music Podcast #2 – Zack Zarrillo (PropertyOfZack)

After a little more than a month away it gives us great pleasure to reintroduce the Inside Music podcast. We learned a great deal from our first episode, including the necessity of high quality microphones, and have made several efforts to improve our production for this latest offering. If you have any ideas for how we can improve our efforts further, please reach out on Twitter.

This week’s episode features guest Zack Zarrillo, otherwise known as the founder of PropertyOfZack.com and co-founder of Bad Timing Records. Zack has been a fixture in the pop punk scene for the last several years, and though he’s only 21 he has already managed to carve a unique niche for himself in this business that has opened more doors than I am able to count. Our conversation revolves mostly around Zack’s efforts in writing, as well as his plans for future, but we do dive into his other projects and the problems that arise when someone takes on as much as he has in the past year. I’m really happy with the result, and I think those that listen to the full recording will learn to see Zack in a new way as a result.

The music you hear at the beginning of this episode is take from “That One Limp Bizkit Song” by California folk punk outfit Sledding With Tigers. Their debut album, A Necessary Bummer, is available now through Antique Records.

Our plan is to release a new podcast every week from here on out, and we already have another episode 90% complete. We hope you have as much fun listening to this show as much as we did making it. I know we’re not on the iTunes store just yet, but we will update you on that front soon. For now, let’s get to the show:

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