1-What’s the history of your label and why did you start
the label?
I can’t take credit for actually starting 1054 Records
myself …. it was launched by Choppaz (Rust Proof / Crowned Kings) originally so
that Crowned Kings had a label to put out their album “Forked Road” back in
2015. I came on board with Choppaz around mid-2015 to start up and run the
Distro service (www.1054.bigcartel.com) where I now stock releases from all over the
globe as well as homegrown artists.
I then started looking for opportunities to sign up some
international acts to help get us noticed more overseas and build the brand in
general, the first of which was Brazilian powerhouse Worst with the split 7”
with Rust Proof which was a great success & really started to get the brand
out there internationally.
2-What’s the story behind the name of the label?
It is actually the police radio code 10-54 for “possible
dead body” & I believe Choppaz & Bones (Southpaw) came up with the name
& logo concept no doubt over a few cold ones!!
3-How many releases so far?
To this point there are 10 releases:
1054-001
|
CROWNED KINGS
|
Forked Road - CD / LP
|
1054-002
|
SOUTHPAW
|
Have To Fight - 7”
|
1054-003
|
RUST PROOF
|
Civil Treason - CD
|
1054-004
|
TAKEN BY FORCE
|
No Masters - CDEP
|
1054-005
|
CAPITAL ENEMY
|
Life Sentence - CDEP
|
1054-006
|
RUST PROOF / WORST
|
Violent Assault From The Southern
Sphere (Ltd Edition Split) – 7”
|
1054-007
|
VICIOUS JUDGEMENT
|
Self-Titled - CDEP
|
1054-008
|
SOUTHPAW
|
Solitude EP – DIGITAL ONLY
|
1054-009
|
COMPANION
|
Unbroken - CD
|
1054-010
|
PAURA
|
Slowly Dying Of Survival - CD
|
4-Tell us about the struggles of running a label?
Personally the toughest part has been pretty much
learning on the fly & having to basically fucking wing it in a lot of ways!!!!
Having had zero prior experience in running a label. Luckily I have been able
to get advice, help & support from some great people around the world who
have been involved in the industry for many years which has ben invaluable.
The other struggles I guess are simply the time factor …
working full time in a rather hectic & chaotic job as well as dedicating
time to my family can leave bugger all spare time for the label, but I reckon
I’m managing it pretty well although my wife may beg to differ!!?? Hahaha
And of course the ever present $$$ … trying to sensibly
decide what to spend money on & actually get a return in order to grow the
label & put out more releases. That can be tough when you are a total
lifelong fan of the music to look past your personal taste and look at things a
little more commercially …. I’d love to release everything!!! Hahahaha
5-On the flipside, the highlights and wins?
Man I fucking love doing this shit!!!! Having been
obsessed with heavy music in general for well over 30 years having the chance
to now own & run my own label is crazy??? It was something I always dreamt
about but honestly thought was no more than a pipe dream so I still pinch
myself at times.
As for the wins …. Being able to work with bands that I
really fucking dig is by far the best part. When I first got Worst on board for
the 7” was fucking amazing!!! I am a massive fan of their music so that was
really cool & then I am super proud of teaming up with Vienna Style HC boys
Companion for their 2nd full length album “Unbroken” which we put
out mid 2017 … which by the way I dead set think was a top 10 Hardcore release
for 2017!!!! And of course to then release the latest album from Sao Paulo
legends Paura at the end of 2017 topped of a pretty big year.
Talking highlights, I could never go past the experience
of us bringing New York legends Sworn Enemy to Australia for their first ever
tour in November 2016!!!! To spend over a week with them and watch them play 5
nights in a row was fucking amazing!!!!
The other thing I truly rate as a highlight is having the
chance to build really strong lasting relationships & bonds with some
fucking great people from labels all over the world like Axel from FWH and
Marcel from DRA in Germany plus more recently Mario & Kim at Upstate
Records in NY & Hiro at Retribution in Japan!! The future is looking bright
with quality people such as these in the scene.
6-How many run or work on this label?
Well it started out as just Choppaz until I came on board
to help him out in mid-2015. Then around the end of 2015 we officially decided
to make it a partnership and try to expand it by starting the distro side of
things. So we worked as a team from then up until I guess around the time
Choppaz joined Crowned Kings as their full time bass player and toured Europe in
mid-2017 … that’s when I pretty much started flying solo.
7-Any upcoming releases you need to mention?
Mate the second half of 2018 is set to be fucking huge!!!!
I am so excited with what is planned for the rest of the year & really
can’t wait to unleash these bangers …
First off I have the debut full length from Melbourne
lads Capital Enemy which we will very shortly be announcing the release date
for around late August …. This shit is fucking amazing & is going to put
these boys right on the map so get ready!!!
Next off will be the debut EP by Overpower. These
Melbourne guys will be delivering their uniquely brutal mix of all things metal
blended with the mosh and groove of Hardcore & Beatdown so be get ready to
bang your head & punch your friends in the face!!!
Later in the year I will be again teaming up with
Newcastle heavyweights Taken by Force to release what is sure to be an another
fucking riff heavy banger of an EP to mark their 10th anniversary.
So pretty excited to be able to put that one out.
And lastly, the other release set for late 2018 is a
fucking belter that I cannot wait for!!!! Recently signed up an amazing band
from New York named Built for Battle & will be putting out their 2nd
full length in conjunction with Upstate Records. These guys are brilliant, so stay
tuned for that one if you love the likes of 100 Demons, Merauder, Full Blown
Chaos or Sworn Enemy !!! also pick up a copy of their debut album “Killing The
Dream” from the distro … www.1054.bigcartel.com 😊
There are a few to be honest …
1) Filled
with Hate from Germany for sure, Axel has been running that shit by himself
purely DIY releasing quality releases for 20 years this year!!! That is a huge
inspiration to me personally considering I’m in the early stages of running
1054 alone myself.
2) Resist
from Sydney also … again, Graham started that by himself a long time ago from
nothing & has built it up massively to have a successful shop on top of the
label …. Amazing how one band can help you reach the sky!!
3) Also
Nuclear Blast … again I remember buying death metal records from their mail
order catalogue fucking years ago when they first started out. So to get to
where they are now, and to have captured such a market with a few of the
biggest bands in the world on their roster is fucking awesome!!
9-What bands do you currently listen to?
Mate you know me well enough to know this question is
impossible to answer !!! Hahaha …
I listen to at least 3 or 4 albums a day easily …
I try to mix it up really with a healthy dose of old
school classic early thrash metal records like Possessed, Exodus, Onslaught,
Sodom etc mixed with a good blend of both still current OG brutal death metal
such as Malevolent Creation, Solstice, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus,
Napalm Death & Morbid Angel.
Of course I listen to shitloads of old HC classics like
Madball, SOIA, Agnostic Front, Blood for Blood, Slapshot, Warzone, Killing
Time, Sworn Enemy etc as well as try to keep up to date with as many new
releases & bands as I can at the same time …. so it’s quite a juggling act
to keep up to date & still pay plenty of respect to the classics that I
grew up on.
A few of the bands that feature heavily in my current playlist
are Companion, Built for Battle, Crowned Kings, Capital Enemy, Gatecreeper,
Carnal Decay, Acranius, Volturyon, Municipal Waste, Dying Fetus, Demolition
Hammer, Exhorder, The Accused, Worst, Domestic War, Ante Up & Strength for
A Reason
10- Any parting words of wisdom?
Yeah sure … support the scene people !!! Buy records
& merch, go to shows & help build it back up to the former glory years!!!
Also keep your eyes firmly set on 1054 Records moving
forward as there is plenty of great shit to come !!! And make sure you support
other hardworking underground labels around the world like Upstate, FWH, Demons
Run Amok, Rucktion …. Oh & Age of Quarrel!!
And never forget simply that if you truly want to be a
part of something you fucking love just go for it!!! Doesn’t matter if you just
want only a small part & to do it as a hobby but if you have the passion go
for it … the scene needs more people to get involved & breath some life
back into it
Final words courtesy of Amebix …. “Drink & be merry
for tomorrow you may die”!!!
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