12/6/2004

MP3 Download: Air Pollution by Fall Records artist, Page France

I stumbled across his website by accident, but I was instantly drawn in by the simple, mellow design of the layout, and the warm indie-pop stylings of the bands associated with this tiny label. There are not many small, inviting record labels left out there that seem to have withstood the influx of mass-marketing hype and corporate label sponsorship, so Fall Records stood as a welcome surprise. I recently had a chat with Chris Fredricks, owner of Fall Records, about his thoughts on life, music and heaven.

Allalom Productions: First let me say thanks for taking the time to talk with me, I know it is not always easy to break for interviews.

Chris Fredricks: No problem, I have way too much time on my hands.

AP: Most teenagers just want to play in a band, so why a record label and not a band?

CF: I also wanted to play in a band but lacked the talent and never really tried hard enough to learn to play an instrument. It’s definitely a regret of mine but I still plan to learn how to play guitar and piano. It will happen someday. Also, I’ve always had a knack for business, I enjoy the challenge and pretty much every aspect except wearing dress shirts and ties so I guess record label works for me.

AP: How Many years has Fall Records been around and how many employees do you currently have?

CF: I started the label when I was a senior in high school in 2001… So, I guess that would be a little over 3 years now. But I think I only got serious about it about a year and a half ago. I’m really the only employee. I have a street team guy by the name of Corey Bickford who is willing and able but I haven’t given him much work to do… and he doesn’t get paid. But I guess I don’t either.

AP: How did Fall Records get started?

CF: While working retail I thought there has to be a way to make money and not hate your life. So, I started a record label because I love music and had many talented musician friends. We hand made cd packaging and burned many cd-rs and started out that way. Three years later… I still work retail but the label is regularly releasing CDs so that’s cool.

AP: How did you come up with the name Fall Records?

CF: Simply enough Fall is my favorite season.

AP: How big is your current artist roster?

CF: We currently have three artists that have a current release or will be releasing something soon. (Page France, In Ink Please & The Foliage). If you include Assassinate Caesar! Who will probably have a release within 6 months or so I guess we’re up to six. We have some artists who are actually on a different label but have releases with us (The Conversation & Southerly) and some that aren’t doing anything.

AP: How do you normally sign each artist, do you have specific contracts, or do you sign on a handshake?

CF: I’ve always used a contract, very simple 1-2 page contract, even though sometimes they don’t get signed until several months after the release. They are very open contracts and basically are just a way to ensure I’m not and the band/musician is not screwed over.

AP: Was there any specific style of music that Fall Records was created with in mind?

CF: I started out with the hopes of creating a genre-less label although if you listened to it today it’s pretty much an indie-pop roster of sorts. Basically I would like to cover everything from indie-pop to indie-rock focusing on anything unique, clever or odd. Over the past three years I’ve mellowed out as far as my musical tastes go.

AP: Do you have a favorite release on your label?

CF: I don’t like to pick favorites since each release is very important to me and the label. But I will for the sake of answering the question… the release we have coming up this month Page France “Come, I’m a lion!” would probably be my favorite to date just because I can’t help but to sing along and the lyrics are so damn clever… But just to cover all my bases our last release In Ink Please had similar characteristics and The Foliage is by far the most eclectic of Fall bands.

AP: If you could pick one artist to sign to your label who would it be?

CF: That’s a tuff one. But since money is not an issue because we are in the realm of my imagination I would have to say Radiohead, just because they are consistently amazing. I could probably name a dozen more but you only asked for one so I’ll control myself.

AP: Do you have any labels that you look up to?

CF: Barsuk is probably my favorite; also Jade Tree, Deep Elm & Sub Pop.

AP: Who currently distributes your albums (or where can our readers find your fine records)?

CF: In the world of independent labels distribution is by far the biggest struggle. Our releases can be found on currently found online at Very Distribution, Interpunk, CDBaby, No Karma and of course our website. Also within a few weeks the Page France release will be available on most major online outlets including iTunes, Amazon, etc. We are also happy to sell directly to independent record stores and we are trying to get it into more stores everyday. Also within the next month our current releases will be in local Baltimore record stores and probably record stores in West-Michigan.

AP: Do you find it hard to get your albums into stores?

CF: Yes, it’s definitely the challenge of this business because no one wants to carry a release no one has ever heard of because no will buy it. Which is understandable.

AP: Do you feel that 2004 was a good year for independent music?

CF: I think over the past couple years independent music has gotten a lot less independent. You see a lot more bands you once considered underground on the radio and MTV - which is fine because they should be able to make a living and eat. But you have to appreciate the really small label with the small bands that you KNOW are in it for the love of the music because if they weren’t they would have quit years ago.

AP: It seems like most kids in America are more interested in the image of the artist and their albums then the actual music itself – do you see this as a problem with your label?

CF: Not really, because I think/hope that most people that find Fall Records are into it because they like the music and they like the feel of the label. I think it’s always important for CD packaging to look good though and be visually appealing especially if no one knows who you are. And our roster of bands is made up of a bunch of hotties either way.

AP: What has been your greatest selling release to date?

CF: Our last one In Ink Please & The Foliage “how to make better love” I’m not sure if it broke even though - we’re close.

AP: What does Fall Records have in store for this upcoming year?

CF: Well then… Every year I come out with a plan kind of a “state of the label address” and lay out a plan which usually never happens because a label is really always a work in progress especially at this level. Basically release more CDs the two things I KNOW will happen is a split release featuring Southerly & The Conversation in January and hopefully a second release from Page France in Spring/Summer.

AP: What style of music, or more specifically, what bands influenced you into wanting to start a record label?

CF: At the time I was really into punk music but I guess my inspiration for starting the label was the people around me who were basically singer/songwriters who played guitar and sang. But, there is also the dream of having one of your favorite bands on your label also.

AP: Who are some of your musical heroes?

CF: Heroes huh? Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith, The Dismemberment Plan, Nuetral Milk Hotel, Pedro the Lion, Death Cab for Cutie, and there are many more that I can’t think of right now.

AP: So now lets look into the future…where do you want Fall Records to be in ten years?

CF: Well – I’d like to be running the label as a full time job & be able to support myself and a family at the same time. I’m not looking to be rich by any means and I always will do other things as well but I’d like to keep Fall Records my focus. Mainly because I really enjoy the music and the friends I’ve made doing it and if I can be successful enough to release the next cd and then the next I’ll keep on going. It’s all about getting more and more people to stop and take a listen and give a little guy a chance. And I want to stop working retail.

AP: Time for the fun questions, what is your favorite fast food joint?

CF: Well not to get all boring and dull on you but I’m a Vegan (somewhat) so my options are limited. I really don’t eat fast food unless I must in that case Taco Bell has bean burritos.

AP: Soda?

CF: I really like Whole Foods Soda or if I need some caffeine I’ll drink Coke.

AP: Music video?

CF: I really like all of the recent videos from Modest Mouse they are beautiful and hilarious.

AP: Music video station?

CF: Even though 95% of it is horrible MTV2 is the only one that plays decent videos ever.

AP: Album cover?

CF: I’m a big fan of fancy expensive packaging even though I can never afford it for our projects. Sigur Ros has an album with a plastic cover that slips over the jewel case and then the booklet is printed on vellum paper with no song titles, lyrics, or credits to be seen. It looks damn good though.

AP: Musical decade?

CF: Just because so much hilarious stuff happened I would have to go with the 80’s and because I grew up in the 80’s partially.

AP: One last question…If music was heaven then who would be god?

CF: Ok, that is too tough of a question. There are several legendary musicians that would be right up there; such as Bob Dylan, Freddy Mercury and lets go with John Lennon also. How’s that for a combination?

AP: Thank you for your time, is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

CF: Well, if your readers got all the way to the end of this interview I’d like to thank them for their curiosity and hope they take a listen to a Fall Records band and if they like something buy it. Or, they can even go out find a record label they’ve never heard of and buy something from them. Either way find something new.

For more on Fall Records and their roster of incredible artists please visit them at www.fallrecords.com.