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.

#3 – Second Nature

The third feature of the independent label series is US label Second Nature, operated by Dan Askew in Kansas City. While the release schedule has dramatically slowed in recent years, SN worked with plenty of heavy-weights including The Blood Brothers, Rocky Volotato, Grade, These Arms Are Snakes, Isis and so many more. What first started as a small zine, the decision was made to release a compilation disc as a companion with issue #4 in 1995. Prior to that even making it out the gate, the opportunity to arose to release a CDep by local Kansas City act Coalesce, and so the first two Second Nature Recordings were born.

SN, like each of the labels previously featured, incredibly is another one-man show. With a diverse artist roster, the labels sound has often been described as ‘mid-western post-everything’, a more apt description I could not conjure. With a heavy focus on quality packaging and vinyl releases, Second Nature quickly became one of my favorite labels. This was greatly influenced by the fact Dan’s empire is also home to one of my favorite (now-defunct) bands Waxwing, who featured Rocky Volotato as well as his younger brother Cody whom later went on to form The Blood Brothers.

Second Nature is home to many other hidden gems; split records between Small Brown Bike / The Casket Lottery, The Get Up Kids / Coalesce, The Casket Lottery / Hot Water Music, a Sharks Keep Moving EP (featuring members of Pretty Girls Make Graves & Minus The Bear prior to them joining the aforementioned bands), Old Canes albums (Chris of The Appleseed Cast), and the debut from members of Small Brown Bike & The Casket Lottery’s new project Able Baker Fox.

Utilising those extra (& expensive!) printing options most of us rarely consider (spot-gloss, diecut sleeves, etc…) combined with beautiful design, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Second Nature releases. Physically holding a SN record bares an unmistakable sense of a thoughtful & carefully crafted product, consistent throughout the 75 record strong catalog. 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. Thankfully Dan was resilient to keep the label on its feet, and hopefully we’ll see a lot more exciting SN releases in the years ahead.

Visit Second Nature on the web:
secondnaturerecordings.com
myspace.com/secondnaturerecordings
twitter.com/secondnaturerec

OTHER INDIE LABEL FEATURES:
- Asian Man
- Poison City
- Big Scary Monsters