Selah records
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Selah Records, Inc. was founded in 1999 by two friends from Lansing, MI, Sean Gleason and Nick Berry, after hearing Sean's brother's band, Anah Aevia (Ah-Nuh Ah-vay-uh), playing in their basement. After releasing Anah Aevia's "Statistical and Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders" E.P. to surprising success they signed another friend's band, Bestiary to the label.
Over the course of the 6 years of Selah's existence they signed eight bands and were co-owned by five friends.
Contents |
[edit] Bands
-Anah Aevia
-Bestiary
-Anathallo
-Bloodlined Calligraphy
-The Last Broadcast
-Foxhole
-Ari Thanos
-88mph
[edit] Signing the Bands
Bands signed to the label as previously stated started with the melodic metal of Anah Aevia followed by the death metal of Bestiary. In an effort to show that Selah was not intentionally signing merely metal bands but indeed the best bands they could find, they signed critically acclaimed and indescribable Anathallo. But old habits die hard, and soon they were convincing another metal band called Friction that they needed a more distinguishing name. So after the name change, Selah's fourth band officially became Bloodlined Calligraphy. Indie-rockers The Last Broadcast were next, fronted by Anah Aevia vocalist Danny Gleason which resulted in him leaving the metal band and being replaced by Bestiary drummer Jordan Batterbee. Anathallo recommended their Kentucky-based buddies Foxhole who came to the label next. And after some time later Flint-based Ari Thanos came into the mix. The final signing, as well as the final record released was by Saginaw-based rockers 88mph.
[edit] Owners
Selah Records was more like a family than a business. Sean & Nick may have started the label as president and business manager respectively, but they added onto it in 2001 by having Alex Delevan join as their promotions director and Peter Belanger as the art director and webmaster. In 2002 Andy Owen was put in charge of photography and videography. Normally running a business among friends is a recipe for disaster. But these guys were their own worst critics and made sure that nothing but the best local bands they could find made it into their roster. Speaking of which, no bands ever had written contracts. Everything Selah did internally was based on giving their honest word and a firm handshake.
[edit] Partners
Throughout it's lifespan Selah Records had a number of business partners who shared the same attitude toward business that they did. The three main partnerships that Selah shared were with RedBull Energy Drink, Love County Diaries, and Porn Free Youth.
[edit] Releases
Anah Aevia: Statistical and Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders E.P. Bestiary: The Locusts, The Fire, & The Plumbline E.P. Anathallo: Sparrows Anah Aevia: Realize You're Dead Bloodlined Calligraphy: Say Hi to the Bad Guy Anathallo: A Holiday at the Sea E.P. The Last Broadcast: Matthew E.P. Foxhole: We The Wintering Tree Anathallo: Hymns 88mph: self-titled
[edit] After Selah
[edit] Bands
Anathallo[1] is more successful than ever playing festivals with the likes of Rufus Wainright, Sufjan Stevens, Bjork and many many more. Before they signed to Selah they released Luminous Luminescence in the Atlas Position, and after Selah they released a split with Javelins titled "Entropy" and another full length, "Floating World." A big favorite however was the catch up album titled (quite appropriately) Anathallogy which condenses their first three releases on one double-disc release.
Bloodlined Calligraphy[2] signed to Facedown Records[3] after their two year run with Selah. They've released 3 CD's on Facedown (or sublabel StrikeFirst Records[4]) and have enjoyed following their dreams of touring nationally. They have only two original members from their days of Selah Records. Ryan Hampton and Eric Cargile.
Both Anah Aevia and Bestiary parted ways over time and members although members from both formed The Final Chapter soon after the demise of their original bands. Bestiary offered Scooch on vocals, and Randall Ladisky on bass, while Anah Aevia brought Nate Lutz on guitar, Clint Salisbury on guitar, and Bone on drums.
Three members of Bestiary and one of their friends from Summer Dying have gotten together to form the successful metal band Dagon.
Bone now plays drums in Roadrunner Records metal band Still Remains.
Danny Gleason moved to Atlanta to play with his new band Winston Audio.
Foxhole, 88mph, & Ari Thanos are no longer together.
[edit] Owners
Sean Gleason got married in 2003 & in 2006 moved to Arizona for work.
Nick Berry is currently engaged and working in sales. He also ran the Lansing Underground for a few years before finally closing it down in 2006.
Alex Delevan works for Michigan State University as an accountant and is currently engaged.
Peter Belanger continues to work for the company that funded his Selah days, Forest Post. He is married and has a newborn son.
Andy Owen works for a school district in southern Michigan and founded his own media company in 2007, Paradise Digital, Inc. He married his wife in 2003.