As we begin 2013 I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2012, I can’t quite believe just how well received the label has been and how so many people have taken us to their hearts and turntables. I have worked in record shops since I was 14 and the thrill of walking into a shop and seeing a section dedicated to my own label is absolutely thrilling and mind-blowing.
Anyone that knows me is aware of my love of physical product and vinyl in particular (For the last 5 years I have co-ordinated Record Store Day in the UK) the thrill of listening to something on vinyl is something that no other format can come close to. The ritual of giving yourself over to a record and spending time with it is something that never gets old for me. I find that when I listen to music on my ipod I tend to flick through it to find something and then when I find it I start flicking again, whereas when I listen to Vinyl I let myself get lost in it and become immersed in the beauty and warmth of the sound only ever coming out of this trance to get up and turn it over.
Death Waltz IS a record label first and foremost, these items are meant to salivated over, played to death , poured over until the sleeves are tatty and the vinyl is worn out but mostly they are there to be loved. My three loves are music , film and art and to be able to combine these things into my business is something for me to cherish, creating new art is thrilling , as is talking to composers for sleeve notes but seeing people post pictures and talk about how much they love our releases on Instagram & Twitter is something that can’t be beaten. It’s you guys that have purchased records from us that have made us what we are so far and I am personally grateful that you have trusted us to re-issue these classic records. We have much to do in 2013 a full Hammer re-issue program begins in March with Twins Of Evil & The Devil Rides Out , we have some choice Italian releases lined up including The New York Ripper & The Bronx Warriors and we will also release our first contemporary soundtracks in the shape of Maniac, The Devil’s Business & Room 237 the latter two will also be our forays into cd titles, we have the excellent ACDSleeve making our CDs for us , they’ll feature triple fold out pop up packaging they are quite frankly the sexiest CDs you have ever seen. We’ll be adding download codes to titles where licenses allow too.
We will of course have a selection of releases especially for Record Store Day, which will only be available in Independent record shops taking part in this years celebration.
So anyway, thanks for sticking with us, it’s been a steep learning curve and we’ve had some battles (mainly with Postal services across the globe) but I can honestly say we have learnt so much in 2012 that hopefully means we wont see too many bumps in the road for 2013.
Spencer
Some of the love the label got in the end of year polls for 2012
Bleep
Labels of the year
Bleep
Fact magazine
Reissues of the year Prince Of Darkness
Best record sleeves of the year Halloween II
Exclaim.Ca
Reissues of the year
Our entire catalogue
Juno Plus
Reissues of the year
Cybernoise
reissues of the year
The Wire
Reissues of the year
Boomkat
Records of the year
Piccadilly records
Reissues of the year
This interview with Death Waltz in Juno Plus was probably the most comprehinsive in 2012.
Happy to see you get these well deserved accolades. I have a copy of each of the eight titles you released in 2012 and they are all amazing. Excited to see what 2013 has to offer from Death Waltz.
ps – I got the pair of slip mats and they are awesome.
This is a fantastic label and a very realised project and business plan. Congratulations for the success and all the best for 2013.
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