Syd Butler

Syd Butler (born August 15, 1972) is the bass player for Les Savy Fav and the owner and founder of Frenchkiss Records. Although born in Memphis, Tennessee, Butler grew up in Washington, D.C. in the 80s during the height of Dischord Records, an influence that led to his creation of Frenchkiss. He has two children with his wife, actress Amy Carlson.

Music career

Butler formed Les Savy Fav while studying film and video at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, with his bandmates.^[1] The energy and idiosyncrasies of their live show soon attracted a following and the band started playing shows and touring both across the United States and Europe. Butler started Frenchkiss in August 1999 from an office in the Meatpacking District of New York City. Its first purpose was to release Les Savy Fav's second full-length album The Cat and the Cobra.^[1] Originally a partnership with video director Juan Monastereo, Frenchkiss is responsible for discovering and signing a wide array of bands such as The Hold Steady, Local Natives, The Dodos, Bloc Party and Passion Pit.^[2]

Butler has performed in various side musical projects such as Juiced Elfers, with Nicholas Thorburn of Islands, and with Desiderada with Amanda McKaye. In November 2012, it was announced that he, Les Savy Fav bandmate Seth, and Amy Carlson had formed Office Romance and their EP, I Love The Holidays, would be out on December 11, 2012, via Frenchkiss. An avid hockey fan, he has been a guest celebrity blogger for the National Hockey League during the Playoffs.^[3]

Butler directed some of the music videos for the label's bands, like Ex Models's "Sex Automata", S Prcss's "Our Bikes Are Silver", Smoke and Smoke's "Into The Smoke And Smoke", The Dodos' "Winter", as well as his own band's videos for "Patty Lee" and "Rodeo".

In April 2010, Butler formed a partnership with BMG/Chrysalis and started Frenchkiss Publishing signing bands such as Gauntlet Hair, Dana Boy, Les Savy Fav and Exitmusic.

In December 2011, Billboard broke that Frenchkiss signed a new, all-encompassing agreement with The Orchard for U.S. and international distribution, both digitally and physically. In January, the Frenchkiss Label Group formed as a hands-on boutique distributor, for smaller labels like ATP Recordings, Cavity Search, Cult, Godmode, Holiday Friends, JAXART, Pendu Sound, Underwater Peoples, White Iris, et al.

In March 2013, Butler partnered with actor-comedian David Cross and The Orchard Video Network to launch FKR.TV.

FKR.TV focus is on original creative content with new weekly shows, but will also includes music videos, rare live performances by FKR artists, and unique content from the Frenchkiss archives.

Editorial

On April 22, 2012, Butler's book, Who Farted Wrong?, a collection of humorous drawings and anecdotes, was published via Write Bloody Publishing.

References