Record labels are an important part of the music industry. Without them, we would never find out about some artists or hear their songs. On par with the three international giants, numerous indie labels are on the hunt for Danish talents. We decided to have a closer look at their work and philosophy. Having selected a few most exciting Danish indie labels, we sent them a questionnaire and asked for a playlist of the music they listen to in the office.
The Record Labels’ autumn on Good because Danish continues! Meet Celebration Records and its creator, Nicki Bladt…
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Name: Celebration RecordsYear of launching: 2012Danish artists on the roster: Arbirk, BYLJA, Astrid Cordes, Death Machine, Deerborn, Favor, Claus Funch, GRETA , In Memoirs, King Kross, Kúlu, Little Winter, Penny Police, Son Of Caesar, SUNDAYS, The Great Dictators, Wanna Be Brothers, We Are the Way for the Cosmos to Know Itself, Where Did Nora Go.Website: https://celebrationrecords.dk/ |
The question hated by most artists and bands to start with: what’s the story behind your label’s name?
We actually had a long list of names that just sounded good and we believed would make a cool name for a label, but instead we asked ourselves what we wanted to do/say with the label. And to us, it has always been about the music and the artists. We wanted and still want to celebrate all the good music out there that doesn’t necessarily get a chance with bigger labels. So after that was established, Celebration Records came to us pretty easy.
What is your philosophy and process of choosing artists to work with?
As a small independent record label run by music lovers, we are on a continuous mission. We feel compelled and obliged to cut through the noise, to find aspiring talent and to help them connect with a bigger audience. We pledge to continuously work for the integrity and art of our signings.
The process when choosing artists to work always starts with us listening to the demos sent to us, and we always want to hear more than one song. We never sign artists based on one song only. Chemistry is also important to us, so if we like what we hear, we always set up a meeting with the artists. We also think a lot about whether or not a new artist or band will fit in our roster to become a part of the Celebration Family. Time is also a factor. Do we have enough time to work on another artist? Can we fit in another release in our busy release schedule?
Why did you decide to open a record label?
After working in a record store for 11 years and then doing something completely different, I decided that I still wanted to work with music. So I basically created my own label to keep working in the industry. Time- and financially-wise, it was probably the worst decision in my life. But it has given me so many great experiences. I would’t have had those if it wasn’t for Celebration Records.
What is your favourite spot at the office?
My favourite spot at the office has always been when I’m able to work outside. But I’m so lucky that I can work from anywhere with a decent Wi-Fi connection and good coffee. My office is always changing. It can be at home, a coffee house, a bar, a music venue, a train…
Which new releases are you excited about these days?
Besides the new releases on my own label (Wanna Be Brothers, Claus Funch, and Wayne Graham), I’m really looking forward to the new albums from Tomas Høffding (WhoMadeWho) and Hjalte Ross.
Any additional comments?
We are working on a new website which should hopefully launch pretty soon… Stay tuned!
Celebration Records: what we listen to in the (home) office
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