Dirtnap Records | |
---|---|
Founded | 1999 |
Founder | Ken Cheppaikode |
Distributor(s) | No Idea Records |
Genre | Punk rock |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | Portland, Oregon |
Official Website | dirtnaprecs.com |
Dirtnap Records is an independent Pacific Northwest record label specializing in punk rock. It was founded by Ken Cheppaikode while he was living in Seattle in 1999. Cheppaikode bought Green Noise record store in Portland, Oregon in 2005 and now runs the label from there.[1]
Cheppaikode started the label while working for Mordam Records, distributor of many punk labels and Maximum RocknRoll magazine. Naturally, Mordam also distributed Dirtnap's early releases. However, immediately before Mordam merged with Lumberjack Distribution in 2005, Cheppaikode chose to switch to RedEye Distribution.[2]
In 2006 Dirtnap agreed to an exclusive licensing deal with Railer Entertainment Music Licensing which immediately led to the inclusion of several Dirtnap bands on the soundtrack of the PlayStation 3 game, Skate.[3]
Dirtnap originally focused on regional talent, releasing a lot of local 7" singles and splits. It has since expanded its focus, attracting attention in the early 2000s when it was releasing records by The Briefs, the Epoxies, and The Exploding Hearts. In 2009 the label signed The White Wires from Ottawa.[4] Other notable releases once Dirtnap expanded its focus include multiple records by the likes of Denton, Texas's The Marked Men and New Brunswick, New Jersey's The Ergs!
In early 2007 Cheppaikode started a vinyl-only sublabel called Green Noise (after his record shop) that retains the local focus Dirtnap used to have.[1]