Working at (weewerk)

November 6, 2007

Phil and Germaine of (weewerk)

Is it possible to run a business while making a profit but somehow keeping your artistic integrity? Are artists like Banksy just frauds who are just trying to make a buck, as well? It is now tougher for Canadian artist-run co-ops and indie record labels to make it since they are on the same playing fields with Sony BMG Canada and Universal Music Canada who also have artists applying for funding from FACTOR, VideoFACT and other Canadian Funding agencies. (weewerk) is one such indie label that has been able to keep up with the Canadian majors as well as maintain their artistic integrity.

(weewerk) is located in Toronto, and was founded in 2002 as an art-and-music salon series in the Toronto apartment of indie rock impresario Phil Klygo (Skull Geek, teenage USA, Canadian Music Week) and visual artist / curator Germaine Koh.

(weewerk)'s success has a lot to do with Phil's history with teenage USA recordings. teenage USA is actually a Canadian record label, started late in 1997, that was able to have success south of the border with amazing bands like Elevator, Eric's Trip, Peaches and The Weekend. Phil now focuses on (weewerk) and continues to share some thoughts on being an indie-record label executive.

How important do you see the link between fanzines and indie record labels?

It's important for any indie label to build a true network of supporters, whether it's with print zines and magazines, the weeklies and monthlies, bloggers, myspace & website music promoters and reviewers, CBC and college radio, tastemakers, djs, etc. There are so many options and possibilities to promote your music these days, it's difficult at best to keep on the forefront as it's always changing. And while it certainly helps to be able to email music to prospective media peeps, I still think it's really important to send out finished product, as the packaging for the most part is just as important as the music contained within, at least for (weewerk) releases.

How is (weewerk) different from your experience at teenage USA?

I really had no clue as to what the music industry was going to introduce me to. I was running Skull Geek, a fanzine come record label, and decided I wanted to start a more standard type indie record label. I partnered up with Mark DiPietro who had some major label and artist management experience, and we started teenage USA. We had a really good run of releases and created a lot of awareness/press not only for the artists but also for the label itself. teenage USA was where I learned a lot about the music industry, on an indie level but also on a major level. With The Weekends' publishing deal with EMI, my eyes were opened to the money an artist could potentially make licensing songs to film/tv.

What do you look for in bands you might be interested in signing?

Distinct and interesting songs, compelling live show, an awareness of what it is they are trying to accomplish with their music, common sense and human decency.

How is being an indie record label an advantage over the majors?

I solely run my label so I can make decisions more quickly, my overhead is as low as I can make it, and I can offer artists the benefit of not only my versatility but my knowledge of how to make money. Less artists want to be signed to major these days - so I'm hoping to attract an artist or 2 with some track record of sales.

Plans for the future?

Getting the word out about the new Barmitzvah Brothers and Two-Minute Miracles releases as well as the digital only ep of my first International signee, Norways' Harmonica. Barmitzvah Brothers, Two-Minute Miracles and United Steel Workers of Montreal are touring out west this month and Great Lake Swimmers head back to Europe for their second tour this year before finishing the year opening for Feist in early Dec.

Use only 3 words to describe 3 bands on (weewerk)?

Great Lake Swimmers - beautiful
United Steel Workers of Montreal - raucous
The Barmitzvah Brothers - cosmic

Check out (weewerk) at www.myspace.com/weewerk.

Posted by Elvis at 03:46 PM | Comments (1)