Greg Davis is slowly making an impact in the electronic music world. Operating Autumn Records out of Boston as sole employee, Greg is sharing his views and feelings about electronic music through the artists that have submitted music to him. Recording under the name Asterisk, Greg provides a direct account of his love for electronic music. In a special interview with Igloo, he further reveals his likes and motivations.
IGLOO: How was Autumn Records formed?
DAVIS: Autumn Records was formed about 2 years ago as an outlet for my own music and others’ music. The label really came about when I decided to put together the first compilation ‘Close Parenthesis.’ I posted a message on the Warp Records board and people sent me music. I put together the compilation and met people that way. It was a good way to get started and compile music from around the world. It was a good starting point for my mini label.
IGLOO: What does the name Autumn represent?
DAVIS: Autumn obviously represents a season and the whole vibe that goes along with that. I like that feeling of autumn; slightly nostalgic but beautiful; melodic and mellow and crisp; lots of colors. I thought it had a nice ring to it, something simple.
IGLOO: Are there any people involved with Autumn Records beyond yourself (and the artists)?
DAVIS: No, not really. It’s just my thing right now. My brother helps me out with graphic work. That’s about it.
That’s why things are moving slow for me. I have to rely on my own resources and money and I’m currently a student too (finishing my masters degree in composition this year) so right now I don’t have a whole lot of time to devote to Autumn Records. But I really think the new compilation will get the ball rolling. It’s really solid, and the music is really nice. I’m happy with it. I am graduating in May, so I should have more time hopefully to spend on Autumn Records.
But, I like being the only one too because once things leave your own hands or control there are always delays or things get messy. This way I can do everything how I want it. Who knows though, someday I may need some help running the label. We will have to see.
IGLOO: What is your background in electronic music?
DAVIS: My beginning in electronic music was in hip hop, being a DJ, producer, and MC in a group in high school (1990-93). Then I was in a very free form/experimental group called JAA that used a lot of electronics (1994). When I got to college, I began to study electronic music a bit and I got a decent computer and starting making music on that. I started recording music as Asterisk. The three EP’s on Autumn Records are stuff that’s quite old.
Then after college, I moved out to Boston for graduate school last year. I’ve been getting deeper and deeper in making music with computers in all sorts of situations. I’m involved in a whole lot of different things and kinds of music.
Last year, I formed a duo with Don Mennerich called Parallel. We have recorded 3 EPs and released them ourselves on CDR, not on Autumn Records though. We did a small tour of the US and Canada last summer which went very well. I think Parallel will be its own entity. Autumn Records is really just my thing that I do myself. So, that’s why I didn’t want to release the Parallel stuff. We will probably set up a separate site for Parallel and release music ourselves but not affiliated with Autumn Records. But who knows, it could sort of merge together at some point.
I’m continuing to work on my solo music as well. I’m close to finishing up the new Asterisk album. It’s going very well and should be a good record.
IGLOO: What factors sparked your interest in making electronic music?
DAVIS: I think the early influence of hip hop got me into electronic music. Because at that time I was making a lot of beats for hip hop stuff. (I have tapes and tapes full of junky hip hop beats) and I think that naturally led me to electronic music. I think in like 92 or 93, my friend Eric was turning me on to Orbital, Prodigy, Ultramarine, Vaporspace, Moby, Orb, etc., all that early techno. But I wasn’t into raves or anything, I was still very much into hip hop but I thought some of the techno and especially ambient stuff was very interesting. And he also turned me on to Aphex Twin and that was the start of it all. It just branched out and extended from there. Also, when I was younger I had Kraftwerk’s “Man Machine” on cassette which I listened to all the time for some reason, even though I had no idea what it was. I think I liked the idea that they looked and sounded like robots. After the hip hop stuff, I formed a group with Eric called JAA which I talked about earlier. And those were my first forays into non hip hop based electronic music. We made a track called “Opium Rainbow” which is still one of my favorite tracks that I’ve made.
I used to make a lot of crazy sound collages by multi-tracking a lot of turntable stuff. Voices, tones, free jazz, anything. JAA was completely free form. We had a session that had 2 bassoons, recorder, trumpet, synth, etc. We also did a pop type song called “East Lansing.” Some of the stuff we did was very interesting because it was so wide open. It’s hard to say what it was. But some of it is a bit dated. I don’t know, I may put out some of that stuff someday.
Then from there, I just got more and more into electronic music, and more and more into all other kinds of music. Going to music school at DePaul University in Chicago, I learned so much more about music, or at least I taught myself about new music by utilizing the resources I had there. I think getting into modern music helped open up my mind to all kinds of sounds and musics. And, I think I gravitate towards electronic music because, by its nature, it’s always sort of been all about exploring sounds and finding new sounds. I like that.
I think the music and writings and ideas of John Cage have been extremely influential in my life and in the way I perceive music now: boundless, limitless, like an empty page. Music is everywhere all the time. There is sound everywhere all the time. We can’t escape it. So it’s a good idea to hear the beauty in all sounds. I think this attitude has really expanded my horizons over the past 6 years or so….
IGLOO: Can you name and give a brief background on some of the artists that have contributed to Autumn?
DAVIS: The first compilation featured AM (also called PM or Parc Mutzle). They self-released an EP last year that turned out nice. Another artist featured was Gliese, who appeared on both of the Schematic compilations. Yet another is Frog Pocket, who runs a label in Scotland called Mouthmoth Records. He has been issuing a series of 7″ records that I have appeared on (as Asterisk and Parallel), and he has a 12″ coming out soon too. I released his album My Favourite on Autumn Records. There is also Otto Hive, crazy drum ‘n bass casio style from Austin, Texas. Nanospeed from Germany is affiliated with the Shitkatapult label. Lackluster also appeared on the first comp. He has several releases on Focus Records. Finally, Undecipherable was on it, though he is now Kettel. He will be releasing a new album on Kracfive I believe sometime soon and he is also appearing on a Pitchcadet release, I think.
Then, there is Defstar, which was a group of mine from college. It was an all casio group, just the little mini keyboards, SK-1, SK-5, etc. We aren’t really working on music anymore because I moved away. Our album, ‘Defstar Loves You,’ was the first release on Autumn Records. But who knows, if we are all in the same city again, we would definitely work on new material.
Then, there’s the Asterisk EPs, which is me. Most of that music was recorded between 1995-98, some of my older stuff.
IGLOO: How did you choose the name ‘Close Parenthesis’ for the first release?
DAVIS: I asked people on the Warp message board (R.I.P.) to provide names for me. I think it was John Charles Wilson (Frog Pocket) that came up with the name. It stuck and I liked it.
Incidentally, Bauri came up with the name for the new compilation, “Autumnature.” He mentioned that in an email and it was perfect. I like that title. It’s a great title for a label compilation.
IGLOO: Was the cover art for ‘Close Parenthesis’ created specifically for the CD, or did you use a pre-existing work?
DAVIS: The art work on ‘Close Parenthesis’ was created by my brother. It is a painting that he did. He is a painter who lives down in Phoenix. I just really love his paintings, and I thought it would make a great cover for that compilation. Then we layed out the rest of the artwork.
As a side note, you can check out my brothers work here. My brother also designed the web site and the Autumn Records logo.
IGLOO: What does the name ‘Asterisk’ represent?
DAVIS: Nothing really. I just wanted an electronic music name and I liked it. I guess an asterisk always denotes a sub note or something, or ‘look to the bottom of the page for something else.’ And I think that it how my music is a little bit. I will give you one kind of track and then at the end of the album there might be a completely different kind of track or even different kind of music.
IGLOO: What projects will be released in the near future?
DAVIS: The next project is the compilation called Autumnature which I am very excited about. I’ve been putting it together for awhile. It’s almost ready to go. I will be mastering it in the next couple of weeks and getting the art together and then it’s off to the presses.
This new compilation features Fizzarum, I Am Robot and Proud, Cex, Jet Jaguar, Colongib, Kettel, Lackluster, ML, Marumari, Zammuto, Asterisk, Bauri, Lexaunculpt, and Hrvatski. It’s going to be really good.
After that I will probably put out the newest Asterisk album or a 12″ of remixes of older Asterisk tracks by some different people (Kettel, Hrvatski, Parallel, Marumari?). Then, I’d like to put out stuff by Kettel, I Am Robot and Proud, Marumari, Hrvatski, and whatever other good music comes along. We will see.
IGLOO: How do you feel about that other “Autumn Records” that is ruining your good name?
DAVIS: Yeah, I know that there are some other Autumn Records out there. But, I won’t worry about name issues until my label gets bigger, then I might have to change it.
IGLOO: What is the philosophy of Autumn Records? Where do you see Autumn in the grand scheme of IDM?
DAVIS: I guess my philosophy for Autumn Records is to release electronic music I really like. I like to see Autumn Records as an electronic music label. But, maybe I will branch out someday and release other musics. I would really like to be able to reissue stuff like some avant garde classical stuff and alot of the old moog pop records. But, that’s in the future. We will see how it goes.
I try not to limit Autumn Records to IDM only or whatever because I like all kinds of electronic music. I happen to like IDM the most, whatever that means. I’m just looking to release quality music that is creative and inventive; things that I really like basically.
IGLOO: Why a CDR label? Do you ever see Autumn expanding into vinyl?
DAVIS: Autumn Records is officially done being a CDR label. The new compilation is going to be on regular CD, probably 500 or so copies. I would like to do some vinyl releases too in the future. But, from now on it will be only CDs and vinyl. No more CDRs. So, it’s like I’m starting over again at a new level. But, CDR’s are a great way to get started and build up a small label, especially if you have no money (like me).
I’ve actually decided to put the early Autumn Records stuff that was on CDR out of print. Perhaps I will reissue them someday on CD or vinyl. This new compilation is really a new starting point for me, we shall see where it will take me. If it does well, expect to see more releases from Autumn Records. If it doesnt, then it will be awhile until the next release.
CONCLUSION ::
The following is the vital information for the Autumnature compilation to be released soon by Autumn Records:
Autumnature Compilation ::
61 minutes and 55 seconds, Autumn Records AR001, 500 copies. Release date to be announced (late Nov/Dec).
