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8 more awesome Aussie indie record labels you need to know about

Last week we made a little list of some of Australia’s most thriving and interesting indie labels who are doing some awesome things for young artists, and Aussie music as a whole. But like we said, that was just the tip of the iceberg. It would be impossible to cover every one around the country (trust me I’ve seen the list and it’s big), but we thought we’d delve a little deeper this week. This isn’t the middle section of the iceberg, this is like when an iceberg flips over and shows its big, dense underbelly. Enjoy.

Violent Soho post

Round Two. Last week we only touched on the troves of killer Aussie indie record labels that rule supreme as the tastemakers in Australian music. Here are 8 more that will remind you that indie record labels are the reason you know your favourite band.

I OH YOU

I can almost hear people who read last week’s list lamenting the absence of their precious I OH YOU, and for good reason. The label is at the crux of what any good indie label should be about: putting out amazing records from young bands and putting on amazing parties for said bands to play at. I OH YOU know their shit when it comes to parties, it’s in their blood. The label formed back in 2009 when four housemates couldn’t pay a gas bill, so, naturally, they threw a party with Neon Love and Comic Sans playing in a last ditch attempt to pay it, the rest is history. They have become one of the leading tastemakers in Aussie music with their ‘froth of the day’ being almost as good as scoring a 9.3 on Pitchfork, and they have put out some of the best rock albums from the past decade: DZ Deathrays, Violent Soho and DMAs, just to name a few.

RIP Society

And the award for the most apathetic label name goes to…. Thankfully, the same apathy doesn’t extend to their views on culture because, thanks to labels like them, culture is thriving. RIP Society are Sydney dwellers who are some of the best purveyors of scrappy garage punk around. Since their humble beginnings in 2009, the label have consistently put out killer records from artists like Circle Pit, Bed Wettin’ Badboys, Straight Arrows and Royal Headache, specialising in 7-inches, grainy, sweat-soaked punk, and thrashing garage rock. And, like their Melbourne contemporaries I OH YOU, they know how to throw a fucking good party.

Spinning Top

Let’s leave the East Coast for a sec and take a trip to the land where nothing and everything seems to happen. Spinning Top are based out of Fremantle, just outside the smouldering cesspool of talent that is Perth. If you flick through their roster on their website, the pictures reveal many crossovers of band members (I think Nick Allbrook pops up five times). Spinning Top have been at the epicentre of the Tame Impala, POND, Mink Mussell Creek [etc] whirlwind that really put Perth on the world’s musical map. The label is a massive family, one where cross breeding and incest is not only accepted, it’s encouraged. With artists ranging from Peter Bibby to Felicity Groom, Tame Impala to The Growl, Spinning Top are like the parents of the most ramshackle house of good music Australia has seen in recent years. Think Cheaper By The Dozen on ketamine and you get the picture.

Future Classic

Ok back to the East Coast. Lets clean things up a little bit with Future Classic. Sleek and stylish, they do everything from putting out records to management to touring. Much like Spinning Top, they feel like one big family, with artists collaborating and feeding off each other in typical electronic music fashion. The label are the premiere purveyors of Aussie electronica, nu-soul, Madchester-esque indie rock and psych pop. With artists like Jagwar Ma, Chet Faker, Flume, Basenji and Cashmere Cat on their roster, they have the ability to put on a label party that would make Stereosonic look like a dirty, thirty five year old with a roid addiction… oh wait.

Farmer And The Owl

Ah the Leisure Coast, home to the best chicken shop in Australia (Chicko’s), the worst NRL team in Australia (St. George) and one bloody sweet little indie label (Farmer And The Owl). Run by Ben Tillman from Yours and Owls (who put on killer shows around the Gong and massive festival party each year) and Jeb Taylor of Music Farmers (purveyors of the finest wax in Wollongong), the two decided to marry the titles of their respective pursuits in the name of catapulting young band from the Gong to rest of Australia. Although their roster is just starting to grow, they already harness two little balls of energy that give the label a whole lot of steeze: surf scrappers, Hockey Dad, and scuzzy garage punks The Pinheads. Two bands with a long road ahead and a label with a shit load of potential.

Spunk

Probably the best name on the list – just say it over and over, it will make you feel oddly satisfied and super dirty at the same time – and also the label with the biggest rosters of artists. Where Farmer And The Owl have just two, Spunk have released records in Australia for more than 150 bands, working with everyone from Arcade Fire and The Shins to local legends like The Ocean Party and Gold Class. Spunk are the go-to label for international indie releases in Australia for amazing bands. They will be also shooting it out on the decks against Rice Is Nice in a few weeks at The Lord Glastone in Sydney, hosted by I OH YOU. Get down there for what we all know will be Sydney’s biggest label love in.

Elefant Traks

There has been a distinct lack of labels that revolve around hip hop releases on this list, and for good reason; Elefant Traks pretty much run the show in Australia. The label started out back in 1998 as way for label founder Kenny Sabir (Trakswet) to release compilation mixtapes that included tracks from artists like Richie Tamplenizza. It was all very lax until Tim Levinson (Urthboy) stepped in to run the admin, and thus the holy trinity was complete. The trio formed The Herd, which used the label to put out their own early records, plus Levinson’s own stuff under his solo moniker, Urthboy. Since then they have put out some of the best Aussie hip hop around: Horrorshow (tick), Hermitude (tick), Astronomy Class (tick), Ozi Batla (tick), Joelistics (tick). You get the picture.

Ivy League

Last but not least, the label with the most prestigious name. Ivy League have got a knack for handpicking bands that appeal to the masses, but still retain an unmistakable left-field attitude toward their music. The label was founded by members of Youth Group, The City Lights and The John Reed Club back in 1997. Much like their hip-hop brethren from Elefant Traks, the label rose to prominence through the success of their founder’s own bands. Youth Group kickstarted a very illustrious legacy of bands that the label have dealt with over the years. From putting out records from Cloud Control, Red RidersDeep Sea Arcade and Sparkadia, to managing Jet, The Sleepy Jackson and The Vines (Jesus Christ), Ivy League are at the crux of what a small indie label should aim to be.