Independent labels fascinate me. I’m always curiously investigating how they operate differently from one another and why some artists tirelessly endeavor to be associated with a particular one (or few). There are some charming stories with many indie labels, particularly those run by a single person or very small groups. I’m going to spend the holiday period celebrating some of these tiny labels from around the world, those I consider with great taste & integrity, where a love of music radiates through everything they’re doing.

#4 – Asian Man

Featured label numereo 4 is California’s Asian Man records, founded by the nicest guy in punk-rock, Mr Mike Park. While Mike does have an employed helper these days assisting with mail-orders and other day-to-day duties, it’s still a proudly tiny D.I.Y operation run out of his parents garage (proclaimed and celebrated on their website front page.). Primarily a punk-rock/ska orientated label, the label have quite an impressive discography. Founded in 1996 (prior to this titled Dill Records), AM have released early records from Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms, Less Than Jake (Dill Records), re-issues of The Queers recordings and shortly will be reissuing many of The Smoking Popes records. The more recent AM roster has diverse gems such as Lemuria, Classics Of Love (ex-Operation Ivy), Andrew Jackson Jihad, Bomb The Music Industry and lots more. Asian Man records has also released records from Mike’s own bands, including his solo records, The Chinkees, The Bruce Lee Band & Skankin’ Pickle (Dill Records).

Less Than Jake eventually signed with Capitol, and the label offered Park $100,000 to buy the Pezcore album by LTJ outright (released by Dill/Asian Man records). Park declined – the record has since sold a very successful 60,000+ copies. With a 50/50 profit split between the artist, Asian Man paid-off the production costs and still earned more than $100,000. And the album is still selling.

The label was long distributed by Lumberjack Mordam (also Hobbledehoy’s retail distributor outside of Australia until recently), whom declared bankruptcy and left both us labels stranded withholding thousands of dollars owed in past sales. Asian Man were supposedly the hardest hit of all affected labels, with Mike reporting over lost $50,000 in unpaid sales. Still AM have soldered on, continuing to release fine records.

Mike is also well-known for his political activism and community contribution. Recently opening a non-for-profit community youth center with his wife, he also created the Plea For Peace foundation (under which the center operates). The goal for PFP, as stated at their website, is to “promote the ideas of peace through the power of music“. Along with the center, PFP helps organise music tours globally, sharing ideas of peace and the practical uses of peace in everyday life.

Visit Asian Man on the web:
asianmanrecords.com
myspace.com/amanrecords
twitter.com/asianmanrecords

OTHER INDIE LABEL FEATURES:
- Second Nature
- Poison City
- Big Scary Monsters