Hey! Love & Disaster
‘Manchester’s New Order’ is what Dazed witly calls the current crop of local bands. Four of these great new hopes feature on the debut EP by Love & Disaster, a Manchester label with big plans. We asked founder Dan Parrott to explain more.
What inspired you to start a label now – and why 10-inch gatefold?
I have been involved in the Manchester music scene for a few years now, and I think the idea for the label comes from the fact that I have seen a recent and distinctive lack of cohesiveness in the new Manchester representing itself to the outside world. People say this every year but I genuinely do believe that it is Manchester’s time to be at the forefront of the UK music scene again, with a collection of amazing new bands whose sights are set only towards the future.
I would like to think that our first record is how we mean to go on, and is hopefully more than the sum of its parts. The bands are all at different stages of their careers but it was a mutual respect and friendship that pulled them together. The decision for who was on the record fell to the bands as much as me. Hopefully this EP puts the spotlight on these artists as well as the city and for the right reasons, not falling into the usual Manchester cliches. Most of these guys were too young to go to the Hacienda anyway so they don’t even feel the need to try and ’swear they were there’ – they were busy watching Blue Peter or something.
I wanted to release physically on vinyl because Love & Disaster is new and I felt it is important to launch with something that people can put there hands on. Also, one of the biggest ideas for the EP was the sense of ‘unity’ so I wanted the tracks to sit together on the same piece of plastic.
I felt the group photo was also very important and a key part to the ethos. If I’m honest, we were so rushed taking the photo we later worked out that it wouldn’t fit into a square so had to pay extra for the gatefold to fit in the picture. Am really glad I did this because I wanted to make the record as special as possible – although I have set an expensive precedence for future releases.
You were involved in Channel M television. How helpful was your role there in setting this up?
Channel M gave me a great and unique opportunity. Budgets were always small but success was due to the wealth of talent, support and trust we built with the acts that contributed. It was a shame that it had to end but am really excited about the future and hopefully this may serve as a logical and natural progression. From my time at Channel M Music I built up a great network of contacts and made some close friends. Being honest, the bands on this EP are the ones we embraced the most and wanted to help them in return for their support of the channel. In a way the inclusion of these bands is kind of cathartic for me – they need to go off and do great things for themselves and Manchester now, and I look forward to working with the next generation.
How do you decide which of Manchester’s many talented bands make it on to the EPs?
I’m not going to pretend that this isn’t down to personal musical taste but I am not close minded and can embrace anything as long as when scratching the service their is talent, ideas and the right attitude beneath. Another word I would like to add to that list is ‘longevity’ – I think this is really important. I think these bands could have a great career and not simply be a ‘fad’.
Is there any theme per release other than being from the same city?
If there is any theme at all it’s temporal. I think these bands represent the new Manchester scene in 2009 very well and they are going on to be some of our biggest hopes for 2010. Saying that, there are loads of great manchester bands who don’t appear on the first record and am looking forward to working with them for future releases. On this particular compilation I tried to get a balance on the way you might put together an album. Airships ‘Kids’ is an amazing sub-three-minute anthem opener, Dutch Uncles is a weird winding progressive track full of depth and interest, Jo’s track provides the downbeat brooding ballad and it ends on an upbeat Delphic/Everything Everything dance track. The next one I think is going to be very dancey most of the way through.
How often are new releases going to come out, and can you name anyone you’re talking to for future EPs?
Originally I was thinking about three in total over the period of a year and then taking stock. I also have other projects on the go, involving video and a new website that all ties in. I have so far approached my ideal four bands (maybe five this time around). I don’t want to jinx it by naming names as it is very early days, but can confirm we will be taking May68 into the studio for another exclusive track in January to kick it all off.
Who are the newest band that you think Manchester music fans should be listening to?
Thats a difficult one. In terms of Manchester bands on the record, they aren’t necessarily new but they are in terms of the UK. I’ve already talked about my favourites but really very new Manchester at the moment are Driver, Drive Faster and Techniques.
Love & Disaster EP1 is available from Piccadilly Records.
Random Hey! Manchester posts:
Leave a comment