The second in a series of interviews with small/underground/independent labels. Featured items are available through KRS mailorder.

SUPER ELCTRO SOUND RECORDINGS

SEATTLE, WA - 1992-Present

"Oogum Oogum Boogum Boogum Boogum Now Baby You're Castin' Your Spell on me!"

This week we bring you a feature on Seattle's very own Super Electro Sound Recordings, home of the Fallouts, the Kent 3, the Wiretaps, assorted Medway gems, northwest rarities and more. This is the label that put out some of Holly Go Lightly's finest moments, not to mention one of the best Headcoats LPs, both now out of print, so pay attention and get the goods before they're gone! Check out this interview with label guy Steve Turner (Mudhoney, Monkeywrench) and buy the Wiretaps CD and 7" today!!! It rocks and will make your head spin. You'll have to play it again and again and again and then you'll have to go out and order CD after 7" after LP from Super Electro and when you do, don't forget to check out NW art punk legends Mr. Epp and the Calculations, the rockin'beat sounds of the Masonics Earl of Hell 7", and the the Braineaters 7" (old school punk from Vancouver B.C.). By that time you will be suckered in and will have to own all the records in the back catalog. But it all starts with the Wiretaps. And did I say it's available from Kill Rock Stars? And that you need to buy it today? Anyway this is the kind of label I love. Read all about it and remember to Skate For Fun (or not at all):

1. When did you start Super Electro Sound Recordings?
I started SESR in 1992, because I had a couple records recorded with no home, The Sad and lonely(s) EP and The Fall-Outs S/T LP. Sub Pop didn't want to put them out, but Bruce Pavitt told me to do it, and Sub Pop would help. Sub Pop financed the first 3 releases, then I went solo flight.

2. Did you do vinyl right from the start?
Yes, I didn't do a cd until 1994, for The Fall-Outs "Sleep" record.

3. What are your economic concerns in running a label? (how worried are you about losing money etc.) How do you distribute the majority of the records?
I didn't worry about losing money but I probably should have since that's all it's ever done. Now I'm too strapped to put anything out. I've been through a few ringers with distribution, right now I'm marginally going through Get Hip and that's about it. Even NAIL bailed on me.

4. Do you feel like it's possible to have a small label and not lose a bunch of money? If yes, how?
It's definitely possible, but I wasn't working hard enough at it. I was sort of busy with playing music myself and not quite the workaholic needed.

5. Are you trying to document a scene? If yes, is it a local/regional scene or a certain style of music or something else? If no, then what are you trying to do?
Yes, all the records I put out were friends of mine. There's always been a lot of great bands here in Seattle that slip through the cracks. The SESR bands fall into the punk/garage/psych/wave ghettos somewhere. The few records from England I put out were all connected to the Medway scene in one way or another, which has been a huge inspiration to me for over 15 years.

6. Please give some comment on living in Seattle the actual place vs. "Seattle" the idea of the place that seems to exist everywhere.
The traffic is worse in the real Seattle. The bands are better too. I hope the idea of "Seattle" is long gone and buried.

7. What bands are you really excited about right now and why?
There's a lot of cool bands I wish I had the $$ or time to deal with right now. The Cripples, Right On, A-Frames, Leatherboy, Briefs, Spits, Vaccines, etc. I love stupid punk rock.

Steve Turner interviewed by Tobi Vail in June 2001

Super Electro Sound Recordings website
http://www.superelectro.com/

check out the wacky antics of the briefs for yourself:
http://thebriefs.com/

another cool label from Seattle where you can get records by the Briefs, the Spits etc.:
http://www.antennaradio.com/punk/dirtnapradio/mailorder/

Check out some of the records on Super Electro:

WIRETAPS Call Waiting 7" $4.25
2 guys, 2 girls play garage punk with a dash of Northwest style new wave thrown in.

WIRETAPS Recording CD $12
Seattle rock like the 90's never happened! Yay! Cool girl vocals, mean but melodic, and 60's style riffs with lots-a wild drumbeats. don't miss out!