Info on: CHRIS

So here's my first post, and it's all about me. How egotistical!

I don't really know what to say to be honest. So I guess I'll outline what I do for SD. I guess I do all the exciting stuff and some of the more boring stuff.

I've found all our bands (for my sins).
I liase with our bands and do the deals that get the signed to the label.
I work with the manufacturers so that they know what they're doing for our releases.
I write any contracts we do with bands.
I fill out all the forms for copyright, etc, etc, for our releases.
I sort out and do PR for our releases.
I try and create contacts to organize gigs for our bands.

Owning and running a record label is a financial and emotional roller coaster. I must admit that I can get extremely negative, fustrated and dissillusioned with music, the music scene and the label often. Not because I fall out of love with it. Just because that's my personality I guess, and I'm so passionate about our bands/releases and the label, that if anything goes wrong, I do get down about it.

Money is always a big worry for me, although I'm more into risking cash than Helen is I think. We're spending in excess of £50k on the label over the next 12-18 months to give you an idea, and recently we've been debating whether to spend more (and without even signing any more bands!).

Aside from the label I'm doing an English degree at Nottingham University that I try to juggle unsuccessfully. I've just finished my second year and that was hard to manage so I'm a little scared how next year will pan out. I also live with Helen and three other housemates.

I love music. Pure and simple. When not listening to SD bands, I'm listening to other music. Bands on my playlist right now: Kayo Dot, Khanate, Harvey Milk, Sika Redem, Boris, Bloody Panda, Trap Them, Gallhammer and Rosetta. Good stuff indeed.

But basically at the moment I'm creaming over the next few releases we've got in store. Fall Of Efrafa's 'Owsla' and 'Elil' are making me jump up and down like a kid with excitement, Kongh's 'Counting Heartbeats' is going to destroy you and the MUCH delayed Sons Of Alpha Centauri's self titled opus is still absolutely killer.

Aside from that we have the awesomeness of Zonderhoof, Red Paper Dragon and The Clauberg Opera at the pressing plants. I can't wait to get these properly out to fans and into the shops. The bands have created some truly outstanding releases and we're honoured to be releasing them.

So, I think that can be my first post. Less about me and still more an introduction into the label and some of its workings I guess.

Peace...
Chris