Several years before he could legally buy beer, inky mopped hell-raiser Matt Samways launched Electric Voice Records from his blip-on-the-map hometown of Truro, Nova Scotia. Building up steam since 2008, it has now become a go-to source for the darker side of post-punk, synth-pop and damaged rock ‘n’ roll, with a stacked double LP compilation set to drop next month. Samways’ base of operations has recently shifted to Montreal, but as he explains, it’s the feeling of seclusion that originally spurred things on.“I kind of drove myself crazy when I was there [in Truro],” he says. “I didn’t have any friends and didn’t work with anybody in town, so it really felt isolated. I constantly thought about ways that I could be productive. It’s great to now come somewhere like Montreal where there are a lot of likeminded artists.”Here’s the video for Chevalier Avant Garde’s “Can’t Tell” (by Heather Rappard):While Electric Voice began as a self-described “vanity label” for his own projects, it didn’t take long before Samways was releasing cassettes for artists from the 902 and beyond. From the supercharged proto-punk of Lantern to the swooning romanticism of Chevalier Avant Garde, plus releases from Babysitter, U.S. Girls and Monroeville Music Center (all previously featured in this column), the ever-swelling catalog speaks for itself. With a little help from higher up, it’s now full speed ahead.“It all started with a compilation I made for the Obey Convention festival in Halifax,” Samways explains. “I put together songs from 28 artists, all from Nova Scotia. After that, Zach from Lantern started submitting his stuff to me, and I said, ‘you know, dude, I don’t really do this.’ Then I released a tape for him. Naturally, when the idea was formed that I could be getting government grants, I jumped on it. That was a huge motivation to start enhancing the professionalism of the label.”The title track from Jeff and Jane’s “In My Car” 12”.2011 was a big year for Electric Voice, as Samways teamed with Craft Singles to issue a series of quick hitters from Eastern Canada’s skuzziest including The Ether, Hand Cream and Grand Trine. Yet an even larger move was the switch from cassette into vinyl with a 12” for Boston’s pioneering electro-pop duo Jeff and Jane Hudson, active in underground circles since the late ’70s.“It’s basically a financial thing,” Samways says. “My first vinyl release was the Jeff and Jane single, and that was really tough. Releasing a 12” with two tracks backed by two club remixes from an old couple who’ve been out of the spotlight for a long time was kind of a risk, but I don’t regret anything.”
Next month, Samways will release his most ambitious project to date: the two-LP Electric Voice Compilation Vol. II. Alongside Canadian heavy hitters like D’eon, Jef Barbara and Femminielli, he has broadened his international horizons even further with tunes from Ariel Pink and R. Stevie Moore, Innergaze and Horrid Red. Coolest of all is a song from Australia’s HTRK featuring the late, great Roland S. Howard. Not much can top that…“The label is really just a personal reflection of my taste, so it’s constantly changing,” Samways concludes. “Obviously, consistencies present themselves because it’s a selfish thing; I’m producing things that I want to see put into physical production. The title of the label reflects an electric sound and kind of conjures a certain image, but I’m not going to limit myself to that. Who knows where I’ll be in a year?”Follow Jesse at @wipeoutbeatPreviously - Fletcher Pratt Is Building A Nightmare Machine
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