daemon records, for those of you who don't know is the independent label that was started by AMY RAY, the rockin' rabble rouser, all for revolution, high-spirited other half of the indigo girls.
amy started the label back in 1990 when she was seeing alot of other musicians around her whom she admired having a hard time with being able to get their music out there. so, instead of sitting around complaining about the problems within the music industry, she decided to help out, mainly 'cuz she wanted to help her friends any way she could to keep the music & the real love of making the music alive instead of seeing it turning into this corporate, money-making, greed-run, robotic, stagnate, uninspirational scene in which her fellow musicians wouldn't be able to keep on making the music they so deeply loved & wished to continue making....
now, starting your own record label is no easy task, i am sure, & i don't know what kind of problems, if any, amy ran into when she decided to start her own label. But i do know that in the beginning she was running everything from hotel rooms in-between her indigo girls' gigs, until she realized that doing everything this way was gonna be very very hard, & she decided to get some wonderful people to help her run daemon....
here is a more insightful explanation in amy's own words as to what daemon is all about--this was taken from the daemon records website. i highly recommend that you go there & check out all the diverse, talented, inspirational, hard-working bands at daemon...you wont be dissapointed!
Daemon Records is a not-for-profit label that was conceived as a vehicle to allow recording artists to express their artistic vision without the confines and restrictions of the traditional corporate rock label. Daemon is not only run from the artist's perspective, it is run by a staff of artists. My purpose in creating the Daemon label was to help break down the barriers within the music community, while providing an opportunity for musicians to create and control their own recordings within a free and nurturing environment.
The genesis of Daemon Records arose from my own frustrations with the music industry. While reaping the benefits of a major label deal, I realized that all around me "music" was getting lost among the checkbooks, executives, and mountains of paperwork that are all such a primary part of any major label. I watched while so many musicians that had inspired and influenced my fortunate career went unrecognized. As an Indigo Girl, I enjoyed being part of the indie scene and I wanted to remain supportive and open to the underground. I decided to stop complaining about the evils of the music business and do my part to support the arts....
From the very beginning, my first priority was to make sure that Daemon Records embodied one characteristic that many independent labels lack--diversity. It seems to me that a lot of indie labels have a fairly narrow musical focus. While a clearly defined "sound" enables a record label to attract a strong and specific fan base, it doesn't provide its listeners with an opportunity to broaden their musical horizons....
My goal for Daemon Records is to present all kinds of music for all ages, from punks to folkies. The common thread of all Daemon recording artists is their attention to the craft of songwriting, independent of musical genre or style. The diversity has kept Daemon alive and will always be an integral part of the label's identity.
now, i hope this article has grabbed your attention an made you curious as to what the bands on this label sound like. so what are you waiting for? go check them out, & remember that independent artists are some of the most talented, creative, expressive, hard-working individuals you will be lucky enough to see & hear, so do what you can to support independent labels, record stores, book stores & restaurants. there are so many excellent bands on daemon that you're certain to find many you will enjoy, just as i have.
once again, i thank krista may for allowing me to express my joy for writing about things i love: my favorite bands...indie labels...people i admire & who inspire....take care..peace, & keep rockin' everyone!!
Editor's Note: Want to read more about Daemon Records? Click here to read Kelli Kay's interview with Andrea White, Manager at Daemon Records. Click here to read a chronology of events at Daemon.
