Unfiltered Records

Unfiltered Records is an American independent record label based in New York City, owned by producer, singer-songwriter and musical entrepreneur Andy Chase.^[1] The label is run out of his New York City loft with label manager Michael Galbe,^[2] and in late 2009 became a member of Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group, (ILG).^[3] The label first gained notoriety after the release of the back catalogue of Andy's critically acclaimed Indie-pop band Ivy,^[4] and has since added a slew of artists to its roster including The Postmarks,^[5] Chase's solo band Brookville,^[6] The Grey Race,^[7] Lana Mir,^[8] and newest addition, Stroik.

Early history

Unfiltered Records was formed in 2003 as a label oriented around releasing musician/producer Andy Chase’s own circle of projects, including the entire back catalog of his critically acclaimed group, Ivy,[9] after the band's departure from Atlantic Records. The label also released two albums by Chase’s solo band, Brookville,[10] and Paco, the side project of Ivy’s singer Dominique Durand with veteran DC punk musician Michael Hampton, which Andy Chase produced and mixed.[11] The label quickly gained traction and began to carve a niche for itself in the world of Atmospheric Indie Pop. The Unfiltered artist roster has since expanded to include the critically acclaimed debut album from The Postmarks[12] (who spent 5 weeks on the CMJ Top 20 music charts), and Brooklyn's The Grey Race.[13]  2010 brought the announcement of two new finds, Ukrainian songstress Lana Mir[8] and North Carolina native, Stroik.  Chase has stated that Unfiltered Records operates on the premise of releasing undiluted, un-fabricated alternative pop and claims that this has been the case since its first release.[14]

In early 2009 Andy discovered Ukrainian singer Lana Mir, by that point living in New York City, and set about producing and recording her self-titled debut album. Her blend of vintage tinged alternative pop recalls elements of Feist, Nouvelle Vague, Sade, and at times harkens back to the soulful style of Billie Holiday. Her debut EP features a lounge-inspired cover version of the Stone Roses classic “I Wanna Be Adored”.^[15] 2010 will also bring a full length from Lana Mir as well as the highly anticipated debut album by Chase and Ivy singer Dominique Durand's new musical project, the Neverendings.^[16] Work has also begun on the next Ivy record, set to release sometime next year.^[17]

Present / Future

ILG Partnership

In 2009 Unfiltered partnered with Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group (ILG).[14]  The first release through ILG was The Postmarks’ Memoirs at the End of the World on 08/18/09, which Pitchfork Media described as “Lavish and evocative,”[18] followed shortly after by Brookville’s third album Broken Lights, co-produced with Chase by Tahiti 80’s Pedro Resende at Chase’s New York recording studio Stratosphere Sound, (co-owned with James Iha and Ivy band-mate and Fountains of Wayne band member Adam Schlesinger).[19]  The move to ILG was recognized as a way to broaden distribution and more effectively promote albums while allowing Chase to focus his time and energy on the production and creative elements of the artists and music on the label.

In early 2010, Unfiltered debuted the Postmarks’ “Memoirs at the End of the World” album through its worldwide distribution deal with ADA Global, the independent arm of Warner Music Group. With the release of the Postmarks in over 50 territories around the world, Unfiltered marked its first truly global release and set the stage for future global releases.^[20]

Artistic Collaboration

Unfiltered is a largely collaborative endeavor orchestrated by Producer Andy Chase who is always involved in some aspect of the production of an album on the label. After mixing the first EP for iTunes darlings' Blondfire in 2005, (which featured their breakthrough single L-L-Love),^[21] Andy began working with Blondfire guitarist and songwriter Bruce Driscoll, a producer in his own right. Bruce has since become a major collaborator on Chase's projects, including playing lead guitar live and in the studio for Chase’s band Brookville, co-writing songs for Lana Mir, and playing keyboards live with Ivy. In 2010 Bruce began principal production on the album for Unfiltered’s new find, Stroik.^[22]

The Neverendings, the new musical side project between Andy Chase and Ivy's vocalist Dominique Durand was recorded at Stratosphere Sound and in Andy's home studio with Andy primarily playing keyboards, Bruce Driscoll playing guitar, and Chris Moll and Jon Wilkins of the Postmarks providing bass, drums, and other instrumentation.^[16]

Chase’s band Brookville, by its nature, has been a revolving cast of characters centered around Chase’s singing and songwriting and has included ongoing collaborations and notable guest appearances by members of Tahiti 80, Eric Matthews, Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, James Iha, Marty Beller and Danny Weinkauf of They Might Be Giants, members of Unfiltered Records band The Grey Race, Tim Yehezkely of the Postmarks, Lana Mir, and members of Brazilian Girls, among many others.^[23]

Curiously, Tim Yehezkely appears in the Brookville music video singing the female guest vocal for Nothings' Meant to Last, a vocal part that was performed in the studio by Brazilian Girls' front-woman Sabina Sciubba.^[24]

Other common avenues of collaboration for artists associated with the label include remix albums and EPs which are usually connected with a new release. Notable remixes have included James Iha, the Postmarks, Tahiti 80, Brookville, The King of Nowhere (Bruce Driscoll), Spooky Rubin, Ma Radio Star (Pedro Resende), Eric Matthews,^[25] The Summer Republic, (the alias of Brookville's friend and guitar tech. Alex Cox), and others.

Artistic / Creative Vision

Recognizing the artistic value of a cohesive theme and look to albums on the label, Unfiltered enlisted the design skill of graphic designer and Postmarks performing bassist Brian Hill,[26] who had created the album artwork for the Postmarks releases, to design Brookville’s Broken Lights.[27]  This led to his "officially unofficial" position as graphic designer for the label; including the album artwork for Brookville's "Broken Mirrors" remix EP, the Neverendings debut album Here & Now, and all Lana Mir releases.  Brian has also created most of the promotional artwork for the label including the tour posters for Brookville and the Postmarks' joint US tour in 2009.

Artists

External links

• Unfiltered Records official website

References