*Phil Klygo and Germaine Koh of (weewerk)

Based out of Toronto, (weewerk) is an indepentent record label, artist management, and promotions company. Founded in 2002 by Phil Klygo and Germaine Kok in the apartment above Rotate This, (weewerk) started off as an art-and-music salon event organization. Since the label is small and only has one person in charge, decisions can be made quickly, overhead is low, they can be very accomidating, and artists are able to keep their artistic integrity in their music as well as in their live shows. In the battle of big label vs. little label, (weewerk) is holding their own, and then some.

The labels biggest artist would have to be Great Lake Swimmers, who released their first self-titled release in 2003 with the help of the (weewerk) crew. At that time, a lot of attention was bestowed upon the new start-up label because of their DIY attitude and commitment to the independent Canadian music world.

Some other (weewerk) artists include The Barmitzvah Brothers, Elliott Brood , Great Lake Swimmers, Two-Minute Miracles, The United Steel Workers of Montreal and The Burning Hell.

Besides the Great Lake Swimmers, my favourite (weewerk) band would have to be the Barmitzvah Brothers. Fun and poppy quartet from Guelph. This past October they released their fifth album, Let’s Express Our Motives: An Album of Under-Appreciated Job Songs.

Quote From The Label: “…we just put up our newly designed website yesterday.” (Phil Klygo)

*The Burning Hell. Photo by Angus MacPherson

Next Show: This Friday night, (weewerk) is having a CD release party for The Burning Hell, Jan, 18th, 9:PM, The Studio (235 Carlaw, #202), $10. I have a feeling that this is going to be quite the party since my invitation stated that it was BYOB. There will be live music until late and an old-fashioned rave complete with glow sticks and Vick’s. (what does Vick’s mean?)

The Burning Hell combines quirky instrumentation, happy little melodies, and cute lyrics with a ukelele. Have a listen to the track posted below. With all the schooly yard talk about dinosaurs, this track could have easily fit in on my newly acquired Juno soundtrack. Everybody loves Juno, right? Then chances are that you might get a kick out of The Burning Hell too.

 

 The Burning Hell - Dinosaurs (2008): Play Now

In a project to keep up with whats new, I am starting a weekly series called Label Mates. Each week I will give the run down on a local/Canadian record label. For those mathematicians out there that is 52 labels over the next year. Are there 52 canadian music labels? Lets find out. Lets Start.

Blocks Recording Club is a Toronto based label that also acts as an artist-owned workers co-operative. What does that mean? It means that everybody helps everybody make music. “…working together we can accomplish far more than we ever could working apart….” Their first general meeting was held at Christi Pits Park in 2005. How community is that? Having a meeting in a park? Right on. Blocks got a lot of attention after Final Fantasy won the Polaris Prize in 2006 and he donated a large portion of his award back to the label. The label was founded by Steven Kado and Mark McLean in 2003 as a tapes and mini-cd only label. It is currently run by a 5 member board of directors.

I love going to the Blocks website. Right there on the home page it says “Don’t Try, Do!!”. It always makes me feel good and inspires me to say “fuck it” and do that thing that has been rolling around in my head that I have been too self conscious to do.

A few notable names from the Blocks roster include Katie Stelmains, The Phonemes, Kids On TV, Brian Joseph Davis, Fucked Up, Creeping Nobodies, Bob Wiseman, and The Barcelona Pavilion.

Quote From The Label: As for the blocks quote, unless someone has given you a better one I’d go here: http://www.blocksblocksblocks.com/about/ (Katie Stelmanis)

Next Show: This Friday night, January 11th, Katie Stelmanis is having her CD Release at the Silver Dollar in Toronto (College/Spadina). Katie is a classically trianed singer, piano player, experimental composer and former member of of Galaxy and The Bruce Peninsula. Also on the bill is the Luyas, the Torrent and Emma McKenna. I’m going.

Also…The Phonemes are playing in Kingston on January 15th for the apple crisp music series in a church…all ages…and a bake sale. Baked goods and The Phonemes? Might be worth the trip to Kingston. (I heart The Phonemes)

Have a lable we should know about? Let me know.

 

 Katie Stelmanis - In My Favour (2008): Play Now