From Tiny Seeds...
The Following article originally appeared in the UK's Tasty Zine #13 (December 2001)
Interview by Sam
In a very occasional series, Tasty takes a look at some of the world's best indies...this time it's the turn of Virginia based Planting Seeds Records.
We spoke with Neil, founder of the label about how Planting Seeds started, where it's going, and why he'd love to sign The Jesus And Mary Chain...
Neil's Brief History of PSR
Planting Seeds Records more or less started in 1996 as an outlet for our friends to check out what type of music we were currently in to. It was also the name (Planting Seeds) of a a short film/documentary we were making at the time to show the history of all the bands we were in through the years. We later set up a website for our friends from all over the USA to see and pretty much have some fun with it. Since we didn't have our own domain we called it Planting Seeds Records to make it easier to locate in various search engines. Later on, we began getting request from bands to see if we were interested releasing their records. Believe it or not, we got a lot of bad stuff, but we later began asking some of the bands we were already listening to, if they would be into having us release a compilation. That
compilation would be released as "Through The Looking Glass: Indie Pop Plays The Monkees" Thats basically a short history, but it gets you a pretty good idea of where we came from.
What made you start up the label?
“Well as a fan of music and popular music in general and being in a band, it was pretty much the next step...the typical answer: releasing music we think is really worth listening to and deserving!”
Which band, famous or unknown, would you like to sign to the label?
“Our dream band being a fan for quite some time would be the Jesus and Mary chain, but since they officially called it quits, we would love to release stuff from any of their current projects such as Freeheat, Lazycame (William Reid) or even their sister Linda (Sister Vanilla)”
What do you make the underground/indie scene in the
US at present?
“It's really a hodge podge of stuff, you have some twee, you've got a shoegazer revival, and just some pure pop, experimental etc. There's definitely a good variety, something for everyone to enjoy.
”
Is money an object when releasing records?
“Technically it is, since we are such a small operation we find ourselves at times trying to find funds to release all the records we enjoy alot. But we try to put the best product for what what limited finances we have.”
Why do you think US indies are more likely to put
out indie-pop these days, in Britain for example,
the genre is laughed at?
“I guess because of the variety of things that are out there. You've got some experimental things -
things maybe the general public and maybe the British press aren't quite ready for. There's also a
large twee scene and bands that are still learning their instruments, but to me and the rest of the
Planting Seeds Collective, if its a great song, then its a great song...music isn't always based on
the ability of each musician - thus you get the impression that most of the American indie scene
is a collection of unfinished ideas and crap...if they actually took the time to listen to what's out
there - there are some gems...but you do also have things that aren't quite up to par.”
What are your plans for the future?
“To continue to release the best records from some great bands/artists...to
take this to the next step... a label worth checking into each and every
release!
Photos courtesy of Planting Seeds Records.
