Concrete Plastic formed on 06/06/06 and was the brainchild of Steve Hyland who had previously founded and co-run Ai Records. With a love of electronic music ranging from acid house and hardcore through techno and electronica, CP was an outlet for the diverse musical, and as importantly design, influences held dear.
Igloo Magazine :: When did Concrete Plastic start up and what was your inspiration?
Concrete Plastic :: CP formed on 06/06/06 and was the brainchild of Steve Hyland who had previously founded and co-run Ai Records. With a love of electronic music ranging from acid house and hardcore through techno and electronica, CP was an outlet for the diverse musical, and as importantly design, influences held dear.
Igloo :: Who were some of your initial artist relations and did your location help or hinder progress?
CP :: Some of the first artists were already releasing on Ai Records, and offered up a track for the initial label sampler Another Generic Label Sampler. Other artists were friends on other labels looking to help us out. Location wise, it’s never mattered where we were based whether it was London or Brighton or indeed more remotely. The ability to communicate globally means receiving a demo from Chile or Israel is as easy as from Watford or Glasgow. The only tricky part is seeing some of your artists perform live.
Igloo :: What were some of the challenges (if any) starting up a label? …and how did you envision the label to stand apart?
CP :: Starting up a label involves a degree of money of course, but more importantly you need to have a clear idea of why you want to run a label. We’re interested purely in putting out high quality music irrespective of genre, that is exciting and the right side of experimental – its got to be likeable, we’re not interested in being difficult about our music. We want people to feel it, dance to it or chill out with it. We’re really no different to a hundred other labels; the musical landscape is saturated but some of it is incredible. We also know there’s a huge amount of generic music out there which is technically well produced but banal, we hope people see us as the former.
The ability to communicate globally means receiving a demo from Chile or Israel is as easy as from Watford or Glasgow. The only tricky part is seeing some of your artists perform live.
Igloo :: What is your motivation in keeping the label moving forward into the next decade?
CP :: The genius of human creativity has no bounds other than the technology at hand to release it. As emerging technologies become ever more practical and subtle then some of the wondrous ideas and invention that currently seems magically impossible can be realised. The next generation of producers will harness what the Japanese call Shibumi – technology will become transparent and the soul of the idea will shine through.
Igloo :: Tell us more about how you (and your staff?) take the label’s sound to the listeners and fans. Distribution, campaigns, live shows, word of mouth etc.
CP :: CP is run by Steve Hyland, Si Mills and Andy Wheddon. We run the label purely for the love and make no money, as such it could be considered a hobby label. You can check out release and artist info at our site www.concreteplastic.co.uk or purchase our releases through Boomkat, Bleep, iTunes or your usual favourite online music store.
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