Unusual request: Which label fits to my music?

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21-12-2003, 11:17 PM
timo

Unusual request: Which label fits to my music?

Okay guys, here's a tough one. As I'm producing techno since 7 years and since I got *heavy* troubles finding a label for my stuff, here's my experience so far:

I've queried quite a bunch of hard techno labels like Artillery (Amok's Label, where I already know that I don't fit on that), Inflicted (Sven's Label, still gotta talk to him), Andreas Kremer's Stuff, Abstract and a bunch of others. Usually they don't like the stuff since it's too "soft" for them (maybe it's because I'm producing for a long time and my mixes are much cleaner than the other guys do it). I've also sent a CD to Mark EG (blackout) but it's also not directly the style he's looking for.

I also talked with alot other label people but they say my stuff is too hard (or too fast, whatever). The only label I currently have in my pockets is the compressed026 release (with tracks I don't like very much and/or tracks which don't represent my current style).

Also other people think that my music is overcompressed, where I don't think it's a bad thing: I just made overcompressing part of the music.

As I really don't believe that my music is bad (especially I want to push through my style), I need labels who are doing similar music like me and might be interested in my stuff. I've listened to many vinyls and I really can't categorize my stuff, thus I don't know which labels could be interested in that.

Here's the task:

Name 3 labels in each post with contact persons to which I can send my demos (either eMail-Address, or full postal address, a link to previous releases would be nice also). Labels which are mentioned in the text above or in the list below don't count (as I already have sent demos to them). Don't list labels which are mainly releasing their own artists or labels which likely have no people to process the demos.

Tracks to listen:
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...20Bastards.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...20Bastards.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks/protected/Timo%20A.%20Hummel%20-%20HELP!%20Frank%20just%20Arrived!.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...terns%2002.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...terns%2003.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...terns%2006.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...i%20Paenki.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...the%20DR16.mp3
http://www.timohummel.com/mp3/tracks...lagermusik.mp3

Labels which already have demos of me:
Compressed, Audio, TST
Artillery, Bitshift, Inflicted, Blackout Audio (if I got mark correctly, that also includes cluster), Lifeform Recordings, Working Vinyl, Exotoxic Rec (and maybe 2-3 others I forgot).

Reward:
You'll receive 1-2 promotional copies of a record if a label decides to release tracks by me.

I hope it's a good deal. I also try to reward pointers to the "right direction" (i.e. where does my style fit, or what is my style, anyways).
21-12-2003, 11:25 PM
timo

Whoops, forgot a track:

http://www.timohummel.com/temp/Timo%...20Smirnoff.mp3
21-12-2003, 11:28 PM
Spark

Timo..................................

I've add you to ICQ ;)
21-12-2003, 11:40 PM
Spark

i love the Bastards track! :clap:
22-12-2003, 12:04 AM
The Overfiend

try invasion
22-12-2003, 12:22 AM
The Overfiend

Schlagermusick I liked a lot.
He should learn the rules of nepotism huh.............
22-12-2003, 12:36 AM
The Overfiend

I say keep your style I like this kid alot and if people tell you to bend then F*ck em!
I like this kid a lot, Maybe even Giant and Dwarf Records?
22-12-2003, 07:15 AM
jonnyspeed

You might want to try 4x4, Powertools, Cluster or one of the other Truelove Labels:

TRUELOVE - A & R DEPT
STUDIO 19F
TOWER WORKSHOPS
RILEY ROAD
LONDON SE1 3DG

http://www.truelove.co.uk/contact.htm
22-12-2003, 07:18 AM
jonnyspeed

...and the mix you did on Hardsignal is one of my favourates. Go mountain biking with it on my mp3 diskman - phat.

:twisted: grrr
22-12-2003, 01:37 PM
yorkie

could try tresor, skull tunes, or as mentioned 4 x 4
23-12-2003, 02:34 PM
Bughead

Try these guys....

http://user25.cw02.calibra-web.de/Sa...s/framenew.htm
23-12-2003, 05:08 PM
timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerOfSam

try invasion

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerOfSam

I like this kid a lot, Maybe even Giant and Dwarf Records?

Got any more info (e.g contact address or a web site)?
23-12-2003, 05:09 PM
timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyspeed

...and the mix you did on Hardsignal is one of my favourates. Go mountain biking with it on my mp3 diskman - phat.

:twisted: grrr

hehe thanks. I know I have to make a few more mixes soon - anybody willing to sponsor turntables? :)
23-12-2003, 05:12 PM
timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyspeed

You might want to try 4x4, Powertools, Cluster or one of the other Truelove Labels:

TRUELOVE - A & R DEPT
STUDIO 19F
TOWER WORKSHOPS
RILEY ROAD
LONDON SE1 3DG

http://www.truelove.co.uk/contact.htm

Alright, CD is on the way :)
23-12-2003, 07:05 PM
The Overfiend

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerOfSam

try invasion

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerOfSam

I like this kid a lot, Maybe even Giant and Dwarf Records?

Got any more info (e.g contact address or a web site)?

That's the work you have to do ;)
23-12-2003, 07:59 PM
00000000

Re: Unusual request: Which label fits to my music?

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo

As I'm producing techno since 7 years and since I got *heavy* troubles finding a label for my stuff

Start your own label. You get more play from established labels if you already exist in their subconscious.

I downloaded 'Bastard'. Quite like the industrial sounds.
23-12-2003, 08:01 PM
timo

Re: Unusual request: Which label fits to my music?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00000000

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo

As I'm producing techno since 7 years and since I got *heavy* troubles finding a label for my stuff

Start your own label. You get more play from established labels if you already exist in their subconscious.

There's no need to found another label. Anybody who does in these bad times will fail. Also, I would need money I don't have. And, we don't need yet another techno label (TM).
23-12-2003, 08:06 PM
timo

Re: Unusual request: Which label fits to my music?

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo

Anybody who does in these bad times will fail.

Of course, this only applies to germany. I have no clue about other countries :)
23-12-2003, 08:20 PM
The Overfiend

Well if you need money you're in the wrong music. lol.
23-12-2003, 08:21 PM
timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerOfSam

Well if you need money you're in the wrong music. lol.

It wasn't meant as this. If you want to found a label, you need money. And often, it's not possible to get much money to survive from the label. Founding a label sounds easy, but it isnt.
27-01-2004, 03:48 PM
timo

news: got an email from giant and dwarf today - they say that my music is too hard.

strange. i've heard harder sound on their label.
27-01-2004, 03:55 PM
timo

gnarf, no edit button :)

well, i didn't expect that they'll take me, and i don't expect that any of the labels i've sent a demo to takes my stuff.

my problem is that i'm somewhere inbetween; i am too soft for hard labels and i am too hard for soft labels. so where the **** are medium boiled labels?
27-01-2004, 04:03 PM
The Overfiend

Re Evaluate your formula.
Are you making music that only you and your mates like?
You have to also think if it will sell and make the label money as well as yourself.
When you have established yourself as a talent with a distinct niche for something this is when you have more room to play and be your own person.
For now try to rethink your recipe and send tracks to labels which are similar in thought.
For example would you send a schranz track to DrumCode?
Just an example but you see my point.
27-01-2004, 04:18 PM
timo

my formula is as follows:

i do music i like. that's the reason why i'm here. i want to spread my style. it isn't really new, but i'm trying to be innovative. i don't think that current labels are trying to be innovative or they dont want to take risks on them.

drumcode has IMHO nothing to do with my music, it's more smoother music than mine. i thought that giant and dwarf could be a good chance, as the music is similar (at least the records sounded similar to me), but actually, it was too hard for them. whenever i listen to stuff amok does, and when i listen to mine, i dont spot much difference, but he don't like my stuff. it's not his fault, and it's not mine, and that's the reason i asked here for labels which fit to my music.

i worked hard over the years to improve my stuff, until i'm satisfied with it. now i am at the "ready" level, and in my own opinion, it *is* ready for the market, but obviously the labels aren't.

yes, i could found a label, but i can't take the financial risk.
27-01-2004, 04:20 PM
timo

additional note :)

i have no clue how the situation changes after my first release on compressed, maybe this will change everything. but i still have the hope that labels will, if they receive music they like, give newcomers a chance.
27-01-2004, 05:13 PM
TripleX

what about all the USB labels, like csk, exotoxic, etc?
27-01-2004, 05:50 PM
timo

i already tried - either they dont like it, or its too soft.
27-01-2004, 06:10 PM
messyfuture

Try
www.industrialstrengthrecords.com

IST has just started releasing again stuff again ;)
27-01-2004, 06:27 PM
timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by messyfuture

Try
www.industrialstrengthrecords.com

IST has just started releasing again stuff again ;)

does my style fit to them?
27-01-2004, 06:27 PM
The Overfiend

Quote:

Originally Posted by timo

i worked hard over the years to improve my stuff, until i'm satisfied with it. now i am at the "ready" level, and in my own opinion, it *is* ready for the market, but obviously the labels aren't.

You shouldn't ever feel satisfied, you should always strive to out do yourself and whoever is "on top", and if you were that secure in your style then you wouldn't mind taking the financial risk to put your own material out. What market are you talking about?
27-01-2004, 06:32 PM
timo

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerOfSam

You shouldn't ever feel satisfied, you should always strive to out do yourself and whoever is "on top", and if you were that secure in your style then you wouldn't mind taking the financial risk to put your own material out. What market are you talking about?

i am secure about my style, but honestly, i have no clue if people out there buy it. even if I were 200% sure about it, i wouldn't do it - i have no money for a second try - so I save it for later times. market = potential customers.
27-01-2004, 06:44 PM
messyfuture

[quote]does my style fit to them?

.the first track i downloaded of yours reminded me a bit of the lastest release by Jeff Amedeus. Maybe not just as hard but it wont hurt to send them a cd

u can listen to that release on http://www.chemical-records.co.uk
27-01-2004, 07:54 PM
gumpy green

mate, id take the risk and get 500-1000 or so pressed up featuring your best tracks...

Prob cost you up to a £1000 which aint that much(you could get a small bank loan). Then distribute them yourselve...you could prob get £2- £2.50 a record.

You would have to work hard, phone shops and basically PUSH your vinyl onto folk.....at partys etc.

It would be hard work but once you shift them all you could then pay yer loan off and have the money to do it again.

I know a couple of boys that have took this route and have shiffted all ther tracks.......

Could even use them in exchange for other vinyl in shops.
27-01-2004, 09:34 PM
dirty_bass

Dude, I have dial-up so I can`t commit the time to download all of you trax but I am kind of acting as A&R for Electronik Music Distribution, so if you wanna send it to me, me and Pat can have a listen and get back to you. Electronik are setting up a new techno label called open source, the idea being is using it as a launch pad for new good techno of all types.
Pm me if you want my address