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You guys first published a punk-comic zine. When did SKiN GRAFT turn into a record label?
"Well, like you said, I started self-publishing with my friend Rob Syers
while we were in high school. At the time there was a proliferation of
self-service copy shops, so the self-publishing scene really started to
blow-up. In 1991, I moved to Chicago and started the record label to put
out a comic book and 7" single set by DAZZLING KILLMEN. After making a
bunch more of those by bands like SHORTY (pre-U.S. MAPLE), UFO OR DIE,
MOUNT SHASTA, SPACE STREAKINGS and BRISE-GLACE, SKiN GRAFT started releasing
full length records."
By the way, do you guys still make comic books?
"Yeah! We've just started to work on a new stand-alone issue after a ten year
hiatus (!). It's coming along. After a while, the comics became
subservient to the 7"'s and the limitations of packaging them with 7"s
became frustrating. I've spent a lot of time over the last year figuring
out how to use the internet to our advantage, so I channeled my cartooning
sensibilities into that. Rob contributes comics to Roctober magazine on a
regular basis. I'll do occasional cover or spot illustrations for different
zines. I just finished a comic for Matte magazine. We've got quite a few
of the old comics up at the website and I've created a cover gallery of all
of the old issues for posterity."
Why did you decide to release records?
"For the same reason every independent label does, I was really excited about
music. SKiN GRAFT Comix reflected our enthusiasm for underground music and
as time went along I wanted to get more involved. It's possible that
without DAZZLING KILLMEN coming along locally and just blowing my mind, I
wouldn't have bothered to do a label, but they were so special and unique at
that time, the impulse was irresistible. Plus I really wanted to design
album covers."
As the comic was punk, running SKiN GRAFT must be drenched in the DIY ethos.
How does that reflect itself in the day to day running of the label?
"We take a very hands on and personal approach... and if you do it yourself it
gets done your way. A lot of interesting things have sprung from punk that
have transcended the limitations put upon the genre. I think if you were to
boil punk down to it's core, it can be defined as "being contrary". SKiN
GRAFT is a protest label. We are protesting the redundancy of today's
music, whether it's alternative / punk / hardcore bands coasting on what
other bands have done before or laptoppers cutting and pasting breakbeats
and drones pilfered from their record collection. In the US, there are
still a lot of people saying that electronic music is the only "new" music.
That's a pretty absurd statement. I'm not concerned about "how" the music
is made - computers, guitars, samplers, washboards - it is the content of
the music that's important. ...And the performance."
What was it like releasing the first record? How did you fund it?
"I printed the comic booklets for the first two releases on my school's
offset press and turned it in for a grade."
What's the story behind the name?
"When Rob and I were trying to come up with a name for our first comic book,
SKiN GRAFT sounded good to our punk rock ears. Back then, people often
assumed we were either a skinhead publication or a sex mag."
The bands that are most familiar (to me anyway!) from your history are
RUINS, U.S. MAPLE, MELT-BANANA and BRISE-GLACE. If someone asked you to
describe the SKiN GRAFT sound, how would you define it?
"Heavy metal post rock."
On what basis do you sign new bands?
"We look for bands that take a unique, individualistic approach to their
music. We've resisted the temptation to work with solo composers or dj's.
Jim O'Rourke put BRISE-GLACE together as a rock band specifically for the
label, for example. One group will often lead to another. Shortly after
BRISE-GLACE disbanded, Dylan Posa continued working with Thymme Jones by
joining CHEER-ACCIDENT. Just looking at the four members of BRISE-GLACE,
you'll see a lot of cross-pollination. Thymme played in YOU FANTASTIC! and
YONA-KIT. Dylan in The FLYING LUTTENBACHERS. Jim was also in YONA-KIT and
produced U.S. MAPLE, MELT-BANANA, and had a hand in LAKE OF DRACULA. Darin
Gray was in DAZZLING KILLMEN, YF! And YONA KIT. There's a lot of that sorta
thing in our history."
Mark, you moved to Vienna. I guess, that must have an impact on the label
itself. Can you explain what changes took place after you moved to Europe?
"Brian Peterson became my partner. Brian was well known in the States as the
guy who books the bands at Chicago's FIRESIDE BOWL, which is the city's only
all-ages venue for underground music. Brian came aboard once my girlfriend
(she's Austrian) and I couldn't stand to be in a long distance relationship
any longer. It has changed the label. We're putting a tighter focus on
individual albums. It freed me up to build the website so I could document
where we've been and pimp where we are going."
Have you found any bands in Europe you want to sign to your label?
"We've just picked up GORGE TRIO. They are a geographically challenged band.
One member lives in Hamburg, another out in California and the third in
Minneapolis. They manage to get together frequently and are committed to
being a band despite the handicap. They released an improv record called
"For Loss Off" with pianist Milo Fine that's one of my favorites in recent
years. And in keeping with what I said earlier, it just so happens that
they were 3/4's of COLOSSAMITE."
The main office is still based in Chicago. Do you guys communicate on a
daily basis?
"Yes."
Who does what actually?
"I get to do all of the fun stuff! I handle the artwork, create the ads,
write the promotional materials, maintain the website, look after the
Bulletin Board club... Brian books the tours, makes the presskits, gets the
records to radio, deals with the manufacturer, writes the checks... There's
a lot of crossover. We're a good team.
What does a regular day at the office look like?
"I work out of my apartment in Vienna. I usually go out to teach English to
some Telecommunications Business, then settle down in front of the computer
and get cracking. Along with SKiN GRAFT, Brian does all of his local
booking and tour routing out of the Chicago office. There the phone is
always ringing and people are constantly running in and out. I miss the
chaos of it all every once in a while, but not very often."
I noticed you also have Up Jumps the Devil and Sinraft Records in your
catalog. How do these labels differ from SKiN GRAFT?
"Up Jumps is the Metal/Hardcore vinyl only label Brian started prior to
joining Skin Graft. Sinraft is a label that bootlegs SKiN GRAFT bands."
Cover-art must play a big role for you. How much input do you have in the
packaging of the records?
"If I don't actually create the artwork, I oversee it. It's a little harder
to coordinate since I'm over here and things are manufactured in the states.
I keep a tight grip on the company's visual aesthetic and "voice" via the
website."
How important is the internet for you guys?
"Brian and I couldn't pull this off without it. It's been one of the best
things to come along for us as a record label. Anyone, anywhere in the
world can get information about the bands and the label. If someone has
heard about a band, they can go to our website, watch a video, read their
biography, browse through a bunch of photos or download an MP3. In some
respects MP3's are replacing the 7" single, which, when I was a kid, served
as an inexpensive way to discover what a band was about without shelling out
the money to buy a full LP. Two years ago, I was fairly internet
illiterate. Once I moved to Vienna I buckled down, learned html and started
to build our site. Since then it's become the cornerstone of the label."
Is there any advice you would give to people starting up a label?
"Ask yourself what you can do better than any other label and make sure that
you have something to add to whats already out there... It definitely helps
to a have a supportive local scene to get you started."
What's coming up?
"Our latest albums are ARAB ON RADAR 'Yahweh Or The Highway', CHEER-ACCIDENT
'Salad Days', and a science album from QUINTRON (under the moniker) Q
ELECTRONICS, where he demonstrates his new analog instrument 'The Drum
Buddy'.
Next up will be RUINS '1986-1992', which is a collection of remixed and
remastered rarities. Further down the line we'll release albums from GORGE
TRIO and PINK AND BROWN (a masked / trash / garage / noisy rock and roll
band from the West coast). Each will begin recording in May.
CHEER-ACCIDENT is in the studio with Steve Albini as I type, and ARAB ON
RADAR will be touring Europe during May and June."
http://www.kindamuzik.net/label/skin-graft/skin-graft/1318/
Meer SKiN GRAFT op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/skin-graft
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