Imprints brings you regular profiles of the most exciting record labels the world over, with input from the movers and shakers who contribute to their local electronic music communities.Founded: 1998
Location: Sydney / New York / London / Paris
Number of Releases: 693 according to discogs.com
Artists to watch: MovementBetween Modular Records, Club Mod, and their yearly FOR Festival, the Modular People that make up this astounding Australian record label have been at the forefront of whichever musical output they've tackled since 1998. We got in touch with Glen Goetze, A&R Director for the label, to answer some burning questions for THUMP.What's the deal?
The record label was established in 1998 by Stephen Pavlovic upon receiving a demo cassette from a band who went by Quentin's Brittle Bones that he felt compelled to release. The band later changed their name to The Avalanches and the label was born. Since then the company has expanded into tours, festivals and events all over the world, bookings, consultancy, curation and many more.How big is the Modular Records team?
Working directly on the label itself, we're seven worldwide—three in Sydney, two in New York, one in London, one in Paris. Aided and abetted by various co-conspirators around every corner.When did you join Modular Records? Did you initially apply for the position that you have?
I started as an intern in 2001 and late 2003 I was promoted to paid staff member. Between then and now my position has morphed quite a bit but is essentially pretty similar.What challenges does Modular Records face day-to-day or month-to-month?
Being a part of a small team in the music business is pretty much non-stop challenges, obstacles, problem solving and dodging bullets. Very rarely does anything pan out precisely how you'd imagined but thankfully given our small, skilled team we're usually able to stay pretty agile and fluid and roll with the punches. Working with limited budgets to try and create and communicate intelligent, engaging artistic ideas throws up no end of fun headaches.What's the next key market that Modular is targeting?
We don't necessarily single out markets to target one by one, but rather are constantly working with our partners worldwide at evolving our engagement in each. Having said that, China and South America are particular markets where we look forward to doing more with.Whose idea was Club Mod? Does it operate with a separate A&R team?
Mine or Pav's, I can't remember. Same A&R team as Modular.Which Modular artists have surprised you the most and why?
I guess in a few ways Tame Impala have surprised us. Firstly the process of making records with Kevin is always a pleasure. Quite often I'm listening to his recordings for the first time around and am completely taken by surprise by the decisions he makes as far as melodies, sounds and structures go. He always takes a path I could never have imagined, which for me is the greatest pleasure of listening to music. Not only are you hearing something thinking "fuck yeah this is a sweet groove" but then it changes and goes somewhere even better. Blessed.Secondly they've surprised at least me personally on the level of success they've achieved. Certainly from the first time I heard them it was obvious to me that there was an appeal in what they were doing, but I don't think I (or they, for that matter) imagined that appeal spreading as widely as it since has. It still trips me out a bit to know this essentially pretty weird, kind of fucked up sounding dreamy pop has crossed over as widely as it has. Splendid surprise though and gives me hope for the world.Are there any releases you regret not signing?
Unfortunately there are a few, fairly big things too, things we were either not quite sure enough to take the plunge on or just sat on our ass debating for too long and missed. Live and learn, onwards and upwards.Who's the first person that you send a demo to when you want a second opinion?
The boss or other members of our team.What do you listen to demos on (specific headphones or speakers)? Is the ability of a track to sound good on laptop speakers something that you consider?
Whatever. I'm most often working and listening through my laptop which is plugged into my hi-fi but it doesn't matter what you hear it on, you should be able to tell if what you're listening to has something special, or not, regardless. I don't think the ability of a track to sound good on laptop speakers should really be a consideration, no.How much influence does an individual in A&R at Modular have? Does the whole team have to sign off on a release?
We generally need reach a consensus before we dive in; it helps sort the wheat from the chaff and keeps the bar high.Are there any Canadian artists that stand out to you?
Tons. We have a Canadian in our midst at Modular who could speak to this better than I could, but as far as current things go, for a start we have a lot of love for Chromeo, having licensed their first three records in Australia. We also did Azari & III's one album down there. I think I speak for all of us when I say we're enormous fans of Caribou. Tiga. Junior Boys. Mac Demarco. Destroyer. The New Pornographers. Jessy Lanza. Eddie C. Jacques Greene. Kaytranada. Mas Ysa. Tim Hecker, to name a few.Is there much of a competitive spirit between Modular and the other large Australian record labels?
I don't know that we feel competitive with anyone, especially large (major) labels. They're playing a different game than us. If anything, it's inspiring to see other small, independent labels doing fresh things.From start to finish, approximately how long does it take for a release to go from demo to press?
That can vary wildly depending on the artist, how ready they are, how ready the songs are, how long the process takes to finish a release. Anywhere between four months and 14 years (looking at you, The Avalanches).How involved is Modular with the touring or management of its artists?
We've put on tours for pretty much all of our artists at one time or another, and we've booked many though not all through our agency. It varies on a case-by-case basis. As far as management goes we're starting to get more officially into that side of things now and we manage Movement and co-manage The Avalanches.
Location: Sydney / New York / London / Paris
Number of Releases: 693 according to discogs.com
Artists to watch: MovementBetween Modular Records, Club Mod, and their yearly FOR Festival, the Modular People that make up this astounding Australian record label have been at the forefront of whichever musical output they've tackled since 1998. We got in touch with Glen Goetze, A&R Director for the label, to answer some burning questions for THUMP.
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The record label was established in 1998 by Stephen Pavlovic upon receiving a demo cassette from a band who went by Quentin's Brittle Bones that he felt compelled to release. The band later changed their name to The Avalanches and the label was born. Since then the company has expanded into tours, festivals and events all over the world, bookings, consultancy, curation and many more.How big is the Modular Records team?
Working directly on the label itself, we're seven worldwide—three in Sydney, two in New York, one in London, one in Paris. Aided and abetted by various co-conspirators around every corner.When did you join Modular Records? Did you initially apply for the position that you have?
I started as an intern in 2001 and late 2003 I was promoted to paid staff member. Between then and now my position has morphed quite a bit but is essentially pretty similar.What challenges does Modular Records face day-to-day or month-to-month?
Being a part of a small team in the music business is pretty much non-stop challenges, obstacles, problem solving and dodging bullets. Very rarely does anything pan out precisely how you'd imagined but thankfully given our small, skilled team we're usually able to stay pretty agile and fluid and roll with the punches. Working with limited budgets to try and create and communicate intelligent, engaging artistic ideas throws up no end of fun headaches.
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We don't necessarily single out markets to target one by one, but rather are constantly working with our partners worldwide at evolving our engagement in each. Having said that, China and South America are particular markets where we look forward to doing more with.Whose idea was Club Mod? Does it operate with a separate A&R team?
Mine or Pav's, I can't remember. Same A&R team as Modular.Which Modular artists have surprised you the most and why?
I guess in a few ways Tame Impala have surprised us. Firstly the process of making records with Kevin is always a pleasure. Quite often I'm listening to his recordings for the first time around and am completely taken by surprise by the decisions he makes as far as melodies, sounds and structures go. He always takes a path I could never have imagined, which for me is the greatest pleasure of listening to music. Not only are you hearing something thinking "fuck yeah this is a sweet groove" but then it changes and goes somewhere even better. Blessed.Secondly they've surprised at least me personally on the level of success they've achieved. Certainly from the first time I heard them it was obvious to me that there was an appeal in what they were doing, but I don't think I (or they, for that matter) imagined that appeal spreading as widely as it since has. It still trips me out a bit to know this essentially pretty weird, kind of fucked up sounding dreamy pop has crossed over as widely as it has. Splendid surprise though and gives me hope for the world.
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Unfortunately there are a few, fairly big things too, things we were either not quite sure enough to take the plunge on or just sat on our ass debating for too long and missed. Live and learn, onwards and upwards.Who's the first person that you send a demo to when you want a second opinion?
The boss or other members of our team.What do you listen to demos on (specific headphones or speakers)? Is the ability of a track to sound good on laptop speakers something that you consider?
Whatever. I'm most often working and listening through my laptop which is plugged into my hi-fi but it doesn't matter what you hear it on, you should be able to tell if what you're listening to has something special, or not, regardless. I don't think the ability of a track to sound good on laptop speakers should really be a consideration, no.How much influence does an individual in A&R at Modular have? Does the whole team have to sign off on a release?
We generally need reach a consensus before we dive in; it helps sort the wheat from the chaff and keeps the bar high.Are there any Canadian artists that stand out to you?
Tons. We have a Canadian in our midst at Modular who could speak to this better than I could, but as far as current things go, for a start we have a lot of love for Chromeo, having licensed their first three records in Australia. We also did Azari & III's one album down there. I think I speak for all of us when I say we're enormous fans of Caribou. Tiga. Junior Boys. Mac Demarco. Destroyer. The New Pornographers. Jessy Lanza. Eddie C. Jacques Greene. Kaytranada. Mas Ysa. Tim Hecker, to name a few.Is there much of a competitive spirit between Modular and the other large Australian record labels?
I don't know that we feel competitive with anyone, especially large (major) labels. They're playing a different game than us. If anything, it's inspiring to see other small, independent labels doing fresh things.From start to finish, approximately how long does it take for a release to go from demo to press?
That can vary wildly depending on the artist, how ready they are, how ready the songs are, how long the process takes to finish a release. Anywhere between four months and 14 years (looking at you, The Avalanches).How involved is Modular with the touring or management of its artists?
We've put on tours for pretty much all of our artists at one time or another, and we've booked many though not all through our agency. It varies on a case-by-case basis. As far as management goes we're starting to get more officially into that side of things now and we manage Movement and co-manage The Avalanches.