Maya Feggo-Judkins and Ethan Taylor are two very different people. In fact, it seems like the only thing they have in common is that they run their own record labels. Maya runs Current Records (Godspeed Psychonaut, Fegyo, Valet) out of Salt Lake City, while Ethan runs Throat Honey Records (Illicit Nature, Spring Bake) here in Boise. They both spoke to Spud Underground about what they do and why.
Why go to the trouble of starting your own label? Wouldn’t it make more sense to try to use one that already exists?
Maya: It definitely takes a lot more work to run a label yourself, but where’s the fun in the easy route? The key reason I’m starting my own label is to have the ability to give musicians/artists control over their music and creating the environment to do so. There are labels who do take advantage of their clients, which puts the artist in a position where they don’t have control over THEIR OWN music. In some situations artists aren’t even able to make enough money to support their cost of living, causing them to split time between a regular job and music. I would like to eliminate the greed of these bigger labels and work one on one with artists to create a contract/agreement that works best for the both of us in that given moment. Always giving them control, the rights and maximizing their time to do what they do best.
Ethan: Because it’s nice to do your own shit. Espcially with music, you don’t want to put all your chips into someone else’s basket. So starting your own label, especially in the DIY space is the best way to go. It’s not worth pandering to people and stuff like that.
It’s not practical. No, not at all. I guess it depends on how far you want to go, how much money do you want to put into this fuckin’ thing?
I’ve always wanted to start a record label. Even since I was a kid I wanted to do my own thing. I like focusing on bands and hleping bands out, because I’ve been in that same position. That’s why DIY IS so good. Not practical, but it is good to help other bands out.
What has been surprisingly easy/difficult about having your own label?
Maya: At this stage in the label nothing has been easy. I am currently running everything on my own, which means I personally have to carry out each task. This could be handling and creating merch, licensing, producing, recording, promoting and choosing a method of distribution. With having all of those responsibilities, it is my job to dedicate my time, money and resources to get things done. It’s all worth the learning experience, especially when it’s working with amazing and kind people on something you love.
Ethan: It’s not difficult at all. That’s because we don’t do shit. We’ve already made so many promises that we haven’t kept. I’ve gotta get more consistent on it.
I think it would be cool to get bands on our label. He have Illicit Nature, I guess Spring Bake too. Kitten Fight, we did a live recording, just a raw recording at a show, and we’re gonna release that. My friend Will (Spring Bake) has a little rap thing. It’s not just a punk label, it’s about helping out friends to put out music.
If you were offered a killer deal with an established label, would you take it or stick to doing it yourself?
Maya: As I do run a project of my own I could potentially be put in this position. Taking a “killer record deal,” it had better be a killer deal, would give me an opportunity to to learn more about the industry and how everything is run. The learning experience and knowledge gained would be more important to me than anything on the contract. The intention would be to build Current Records into a professional label, whilst holding on to my original intentions of starting this business in the first place. Having a collective of artists creating art and music together without being held back by the limitations that traditional labels create.
Ethan declined to comment.
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