2002 / www.anewnoise.com / Geographic

Label run by: Stephen Pastel, Katrina Mitchell, Laurence Bell.

Started in: 2000.

Where based: Glasgow and London.

Genres: We don't really think in terms of genres - just looking for a beautiful and honest expression that touches us in some way. But a lot of the music we represent seems to have a hand-made, melodic, raw quality.

Current bands/artists on Geographic: The only group that is currently signed to Geographic is International Airport. But we have ongoing relationships with Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Future Pilot AKA, Bill Wells. We see it as an expanding network of like-minded musicians, and to some extent represent every artist who has even one track on Geographic.

First Geographic release: Geographic1 is Maher Shalal Hash Baz - From A Summer To Another Summer (An Egypt To Another Egypt), but actually the Unknown Happiness 7" (Geographic 4) came out first.

Number of releases: Coming up for sixteen.

Give us brief history of the label - motivation for starting, when you started, how you came to release your first album: There were two factors really; hearing Maher Shalal Hash Baz for the first time, and the support that Domino were able to give us.

Were there any labels which particularly inspired you to start Geographic? Not really, but we respect Org (Japan) and Domino. But speaking personally, maybe the only label I ever followed as a fan was Rough Trade in the late 1970s.

What are your current favourite labels, why? Org (Japan). Domino. Different reasons - Org has got this whole magical way of presenting music that makes you feel like Marco Polo every time you track one down. Their packaging is beautiful and the sound quality is always the best. It just feel so uncompromised and pure. Domino has got a really old-school a & r vibe: really it's all down to Laurence Bell. In a way I feel he has it within him to be a really sharp operator, but because he'll never back down on the music he loves, he always has to suppress that part of himself. It's this human flaw / quality that, for me, is the core of Domino. He's got this incredible way of believing in his musicians and just letting them get on with it, and even when it doesn't come off, he never seems to get bitchy or look for people to blame. So from an artist's point of view it's the best label; that is if an artist is prepared to take responsibility and has the talent to do so. So Laurence is like the warm core of the whole thing and so many of the records reflect that.

Is Geographic a full time project? More and more. But to be honest we still prefer actually playing music in The Pastels. It's just circumstances that we are not more active with that.

If you could sign any existing band to geographic at no cost who would it be? Maher Shalal Hash Baz. They're the best.

What new bands are you/should we be listening to? Tibi Lubin, Directorsound, Plinth.

What are your hopes for the label? any exciting releases coming our way? Well, there's a beautiful new record from the Bill Wells Trio called Also In White. In scope it's really bold and fantastic - people are starting to turn on to him. And a new mini-album from Maher Shalal Hash Baz - Maher On Water. Also, we currently have a compilation in the shops called You Don't Need Darkness To Do What You Think Is Right. In a way it's like our mix-tape which, you know, tries to reflect a Geographic perspective or style. We were able to bring in a few really special things like Kevin Shields and Sister Vanilla. I'd say that's a really good way in to the label.

And if a label is trying to convince a band to release a track with them what should they be offer? Well, different labels have different qualities, you know. I'm confident that if we have the time and resources, and are completely tuned into a project, that no-one can do a better job. But in general terms groups should try to check out the label in as much as they can. You would want to be with a label that is honest and upfront; that is in sympathy with your music.

Have you/would you ever release a record of the back of an unsolicited demo? We came to Plinth and Directorsound in this way. Both were fantastic additions to our compilation.

Have/are any people from Geographic been in bands? if yes, has your experience of these bands helped shape how you treat other bands on your label? Yes, Katrina and I are both in The Pastels. So of course we try to bring our insights from that to the label.

Any other wisdom to pass on to either people thinking of starting a label or trying to get signed to one? I think at this time it's important to have a clear vision and sense of what the label is going to be about. And people in groups shouldn't get too uptight about the whole thing; sometimes it's better in the end to release your own music.

You seem to be looking to japan for recent releases, how do you mange to discover these bands? Well, David Keenan (Telstar Ponies / The Wire) turned us onto Maher Shalal Hash Baz. Also, The Pastels have visited Japan three times and some of our friends there helped us make a connection with the Org scene.

Are there any other great japanese bands you think we're missing out on? Naoki Zushi makes very beautiful music. Naturally he's on Org.