METAL POSTCARD RECORDS - At The Forefront of Out of This World
Portland
via Hong Kong, New York City, Sydney and Hersham/Surrey – Metal Postcard
Records creator, Sean Hocking has travelled the world in search of new music, unexplored
treasures and exotic destinations – an incendiary constellation in its own right,
but combine it with a discerning ear, the persuasive rhetoric of a champion for
undiscovered talent and the spirited belief that music has the power to change
the world and you will suddenly find yourself caught up in a firestorm of who, what, when, where and how did you exist
this many years unaware of Metal Postcard Records, or that Cambodia has an Alterative Music scene that will blow your mind. Did the temperature just raise a few degrees?
A fan of
John Peel and Radio 1, patterning his fledgling company after the indie record
labels of his youth, including Factory, Rough Trade and Fast Product Records
among others, Sean concluded that the smaller labels were appealing in terms of
not only the music – the daring unorthodox, sometimes political, always
provocative sounds of late 70’s UK, but also the artwork and album cover
designs, which were far superior in their originality than anything the mainstream
could offer.
Design by Peter Saville
With the
desire to showcase original underground and obscure new music, and with a nod to
Siouxsie & the Banshees and anti-fascist, John Heartfield, he founded Metal
Postcard Records in 2002.
In
speaking to Sean about his roster of artists from not only China and Cambodia,
but Australia, the UK, and one of my favourite cities, Portland, Oregon, it’s apparent
his passion is ideological, free of restriction and strongly of the opinion that
today’s youth need, or rather deserve to be informed there exists a whole world
outside of our perception of ‘alternative music,’ that’s just waiting to be
discovered…bands like “Ollo” from Sydney, Tasmania’s “Zoe Zac,” “Cambodian
Space Project” who bring to mind Tokyo’s Shibuya-Kei sounds of the 90s, “Bambora
Adora,” reminiscent of early Galaxie 500, and “Christopher Rau” who have a psych vibe
similar to Perth’s Tame Impala.
While these
bands may fall on deaf ears to hardcore Taylor Swift fans, those of us who grew
up with a healthy respect for MC5, The Clash or The Fall, or have children we
wish to rescue from the pablum of mainstream culture, understand what
independent labels like Metal Postcard Records are trying to achieve - It’s not
about the hype, it’s not about the lifestyle or the herd mentality of flocking
toward the subliminally marketed trends of the moment, and it’s certainly not
about money - it’s simply about the love of music.
So if you’re feeling adventurous and I haven’t frightened you out of your comfort zone, put on your headphones, light up or open that coveted bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet and treat your ears to a brand new experience, because when all is said and done, what good is life without new experiences?
GH: You founded Metal Postcard Records back in
2002. Very nice reference to a Siouxsie
& the Banshees song by the way, and certainly reflects the international
focus of your label. Can you describe
exactly where you were on the day you decided to start a record label and how
the idea came about?
I'd been dreaming about my own independent label ever since listening to
the John Peel Show in the late 70's as a young teen, but what solidified the
idea of the label was an idea that popped into my head as I was holding a
Burroughs night for an art label I was running with a friend at the time ( 12
Apostles - http://www.12-apostles.com). The opening dj at the night was Lars from
Sydney electronica act Ollo and there he was at 8 in the evening dressed from
head to foot as a gorilla playing Psychic TV's recording of the Jim Jones
massacre as his entire set, it was this particular moment in time that forced
me into action.
SH: This is nigh on impossible but I’d have to go for a double album to get as much music as possible and if it's a double album it'll have to be The White Album.
GH: I
understand the label’s first release was a satirical version of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’
sung by George Bush? So this was in 2002, the country was still
apprehensive and healing from the atrocity of 911. Was it your intention
at that time to shake up the status quo and kind of push the boundaries with
such a political statement?
SH: Yes. Mash-ups were all the
rage at the time and although fun they were in the main rather pointless and
safe in just referencing pop culture. I'd come across Sydney artist Wax Audio,
who was quietly tinkering away on his own and saw that with his Lennon ideas and
9/11 ( I was unfortunate enough to be in Battery Park City that day only 3
blocks away from the Towers) that he was actually trying to do something
interesting with the form + there nothing better than a track that starts with
Lennon saying fuck; I thought what a great first release for the label. Talking
of fucks the A side has nothing on the flip side which is still, I think, one
of the most punk things ever committed to vinyl (https://metalpostcard.
GH:
I’ve been a fan of underground music myself since my teens and remember
how excited I was when I first heard bands like Gun Club and Sonic Youth back
in the late 80’s – I understand you grew up in Australia and the UK – Can you
tell me which artists you were listening to back then and how they influenced
your desire to search for new music in places as far away as Cambodia and Hong
Kong?
SH: I
grew up and went to school in the UK and then spent a little time in Australia
before returning to university in the UK. As a young teen in the late
seventies we'd all heard the first wave of punk as kids, so that set us up for
what was to come. Peel helped and before long you'd be hearing a great new band
every week, as well as Siouxsie & The Banshees, Echo & The Bunnymen,
The Teardrop Explodes, The Birthday Party, The Swell Maps, Gang of Four and too
many others to mention. We were also obsessed
by the US underground and The Cramps, Black Flag, Fear and of course, The Dead
Kennedys.
In the end though it was Peel who really sent me into a new world
where one week you might hear The Dodgems from Brighton and their song
"Lord Lucan," the next week a new band called Human League and a song
on Fast Records called Being Boiled and of course the mighty Fall whose discordancy
was just something that you couldn't hear anywhere else at the time.
The
Australia visit was also a revelation, as out there was a music scene growing
up on its own DNA strand. The NME
wouldn't arrive until about a month after UK publication and I rarely remember
hearing many US artists. Sydney in 1983 had a live music scene that I've yet to
see bettered. Bands like The Lime Spiders, Hoodoo Gurus, the Triffids, the
Sunny Boys as well as infrequent visits by NZ weirdoes like the Bats and a host
of other local acts made it a very exciting time to see live music at venues
like the Trade Union Club, the Hopetoun and Paddington Town Hall.
GH: What were some of the obstacles you
encountered getting your label out to the public, and taking into account the
good and the bad, would you recommend your profession to other music lovers
looking to break into the same business?
SH: First up I’d like to mention how kind Rough
Trade records in Portobello were to me on my first releases. They wouldn't hesitate to take records, sell
them and order more. They still do the same. I’ve been buying records from the store from
the age of about 13 onwards and they have been equally kind to me as a customer
and a label owner. There's no other store like them on the planet and I wish
95% of the other people I’ve dealt with over the years had their manners and
class.
In terms of getting out to the
public I started in the days where a physical distro was a must and my
experience of these people in whichever country they are based makes me believe
they are some of the worst people on the planet up there with Middle Eastern
dictators and serial killers. It took me over a decade to get distribution in
the US and this year they've gone into receivership stealing all my revenues
for the past year. It's only the third
time it has happened with distributors!
My advice
to all future indie label owners is simple. Do it because you love it, don't
expect to make money. Those artists who make you the least amount of money are
by far the most important artists on your label. They are the ones that
actually believe in art. With regard to ancillary services like distributors,
promo, pr and all that other gumph, be aware they don't give a shit about music.
They just want your money and in some cases they think you will make them look
cool. Sometimes you have to use them and bite the bullet and spend money, but
in the main I suggest you ignore the industry as much as possible and choose
your own path . I believe 100% that DIY will take you where you want. Make art not business.
GH: Are you avidly looking for bands to sign and if
so, where can we reach you?
SH: I wouldn't say avidly but I do
want to hear from you if you make left field music that has a meaning of sorts.
Mindless white noise or shouty rap with dope beats won't get far with me! I'm
always at metal postcard@mail.com but please do listen to some of the
catalogue https://metalpostcard.
GH: So I’m a bored Gen-Y teen. I’m already
tired of Pokemon Go, sick of that Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra LP my
‘think-they're-hip’ parents keep playing and I want to hear something
completely out of this world – Who should I be listening to and where can I buy
it (keeping in mind I like to support artists so am willing to pay)…?
SH: Ok that's easy - Let's start with
a new MP act . Digital Suicide from India are the bees knees.
There's no point trying to describe them just listen https://metalpostcard.
And also new Portland (OR) band Honeybucket who's debut album "Magical
World" is due in the Fall. Talking of which, that's how I describe them -
an American suburban version of the Fall with their own sound and aesthetic . I
just sent out the following track to College & Indie Radio in the US and we
have received back a slew of complaints about un-tuned guitars and general
whinging which always means you are on the right track ! (https://metalpostcard.
Other current acts I'm mad about:
Salary (Perth) This track
Mini-Moke is beyond wonderful.
Peter Bibby (Melb)
Listen to Goodbye Johnny.
Dream Herbs ( Walthamstow -
London) New on Metal Postcard soon - influenced by Syd Barrett, Hawkwind, Black
Flag, Sabbath - designed to annoy hipsters.
Loom ( Norwich UK)
producer on Peckham's GobStopper Records . In my book the best label on
the planet at the moment:
Psycho Comedy ( Liverpool UK)
Smells Like Teen Spirit !.. goosbumps everytime I watch ( https://youtu.be/4m-
Rabbit Island ( Perth) I'd
be happy if this was the last thing I heard before I died..
GH: I’m going to end with a question that’s become a bit
of a theme with me lately, but I’m always intrigued by the answers I receive:
You have one album to listen to from now until forever; what will it be?
SH: This is nigh on impossible but I’d have to go for a double album to get as much music as possible and if it's a double album it'll have to be The White Album.
Thanks
Sean!
So
there you have it kids – Collect your allowance and get online. Just stay out
of mummy’s wine!
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