Kelli Kay conducted the following interview with Andrea White, the Manager of Daemon Records. Thanks, Kelli and Andrea, for taking the time to put together this interview and for letting us run this interview in AMP!
Kelli Kay (KK): Who and how many people work for Daemon?
Andrea White (AW): We have three employees. Manager, retail and production, publicity.
KK: How many bands get signed to Daemon in a year?
AW: Our average is about 4 artists a year.
KK: How involved is [Daemon's founder] Amy [Ray] with Daemon?
AW: Amy is very involved. Though she is on the road most of the time, we keep in contact through phone, fax, and e-mail. We make all our major decisions as a group, so there is a lot of communication.
KK: How do you choose the bands to sign?
AW: We mainly look for good songwriting. Doesn't matter what type of genre--just good music.
KK:Do you sign by seeing the band or by receiving demos?
AW: Usually by seeing. We've only signed one band, Three Finger Cowboy, by a demo, and that was just last year.
KK: Are there any bands you'd like to sign, but for some reason can't?
AW: Well, we are a small label and can't afford tour support or much advertising, so this may stop some artists from signing to us. For the most part, though, we've never has a problem with this, as most artists we're interested in are newly starting indie bands.
KK: What are Daemon bands expected to do once they are signed?
AW: Tour, tour, tour!!! And we also require them to work in the office a minimum of 15 hours. This is to give them an idea of how a label operates.
KK: Has Daemon ever had any problems in the past?
AW: We have had some artists that haven't fulfilled their tour obligations. It's frustrating when the label does all the work and the artist(s) sits on their butts. If you don't go play, nothing will happen, and they're just hurting themselves.
KK: What made Amy decide to start her own label?
AW: After the Indigo Girls were signed, Amy decided to start a label to help out the community that gave her so much support.
KK: When an why did Amy decide to hire people to help her run Daemon?
AW: She hired one person from the beginning, and then it just sort of grew. As the label grew, she hired more people to take care of things while she toured.
KK:How did you get to be hired as Manager of Daemon?
AW: Amy and I have been friends for years. I happened to need a job just as she needed a new manager. We have similar political and environmental concerns, and she needed someone who would watch these issues in day-to-day business, as well as run the company.
KK: Did Amy or you hire the rest of the staff that works there?
AW: Each staff member is interviewed by everyone in the office. We all have to agree.
KK: How does everyone like their jobs at Daemon?
AW: We all love our jobs. That's why there isn't much turnover here.
KK: Do you ever hire new people onto the Daemon staff?
AW: Yes, sometimes. Usually we know the person in some form or fashion before, though. We just like to have a feel of a person first. We work in very cramped quarters and all need to really get along. We also need like-minded people, as Daemon is so politically active.
KK: Who was the first band signed to Daemon?
AW: Ellen James Society.
KK: Who is the newest artist or band signed?
AW: Mrs. Fun.
KK: Have any bands left Daemon? If so, why?
AW: All bands eventually leave. Our contracts are pretty short-termed, and we kind of see ourselves as a stepping-stone for artists to go on to bigger things.
KK: How do all the bands at Daemon get along with each other?
AW: We're a family. Everyone is very supportive of each other and even often tour together.
KK: I know that Jesus Christ Superstar was done for funding gun control...so, does Daemon support other causes, too? If so, which ones?
AW: Tons. You can check out our website just to get a feel. We also did the Honor cd, which is a benefit for the Honer The Earth Campaign. This is an organization that deals with indigenous environmental and politcal concerns.
KK: Does Amy plan on taking more Daemon bands with her to open for them?
AW: She usually takes out most of the active Daemon bands when she's on tour. Just a little perk, though the bands do have to work for it.
well, there ya' have it everyone, & if ya' wanna know more, just go to www.daemonrecords.com, & check them out...much thanks to Andrea for taking the time to answer my questions...peace, love, & good music...Kelli Kay
Editor's Note: Want to read more about Daemon Records? Click here to read Kelli Kay's article on Daemon Records. Click here to read the chronology of Daemon events.