Every once in a while we are bound to enter the land of make believe – envision our dream job and generally have a grand old time of things. However, for a lucky few that land of make believe is a place of reality – as is the case for the two founders of Olive Grove Records. D.I.Y record labels are nothing new to the music beaten streets of Glasgow. However, with the familiar faces of Glasgow PodcART creator Halina Rifai and serial music blogger for Peenko, Lloyd Meredith, deciding not only to do set up their own label – but also offer something a little different we were very excited to find out more.
How did this venture come about? And why did you decide to start Olive Grove Records?Lloyd: It was all pretty easy to be honest, or at least it was for me. Halina called me out of the blue during the summer, I could hear in her voice that sounded kind of nervous with what she was about to say. She asked if I fancied setting up a label together. I think it took me all of two seconds to say yes. I had always wanted to set up my own label, so to have someone like Halina onside just sounded like a perfect idea to me.
Halina: I have always wanted to do something like this. As a teenager it was one of my ambitions and after getting to know Lloyd and realising that he was of the same mindset, ethos and had the same passion i knew it was time to do something.
Do you have any background in the music industry?
L: Not really, I did a degree in it about ten years ago, but I’ve never been employed in anything musically related. I have been running the blog for over two years now, which has developed into me doing various bits and bobs. I currently manage a band called Campfires in Winter, put on gigs with my fellow blogger Jim ‘Ayetunes’, DJ from time to time, plus various other bits and bobs. I have a very patient wife who doesn’t see me quite as often as she should.
H:I used to write freelance for a few online sources before I realised that I could do it myself and decided to start Glasgow Podcart. It has by far been my proudest moment so far in my life. It has actually made a difference and provided a voice and platform for artists in an organic way. I don’t thinky ou necessarily have to have a degree in something to realise that if you have the passion and commitment you can do anything.
Where do you start in setting up your own record label?
H: God knows! We have done it as DIY as you can get. We approached the bands we wanted to work with and then we brainstormed about what we wanted to do in terms of the releases. We wanted to make them as organic and original as possible. We are going to be distributing the physical copies as we are setting up and then see what happens from there. I think the term ‘record label’ is a very ambiguous one these days. People automatically still think of big guns like Sony, Island etc. when realistically it is not like that.
L: It’s pretty easy to start off with, all you have to do is tell everyone that you’re a record label. After that we’re pretty much learning as we go, thankfully though we have plenty of folk out there who seem willing to to help us out and point us in the right direction.
Why do you think there has been a resurgence of independent labels?
L: I am not sure that there has been to be honest. Just after we announced that we were starting up Olive Grove, I was talking to Matthew who runs the Blues Bunny website and he was saying how great it was that we were doing this as he’d noticed that there had been a massive decline in the number of ‘cottage industry’ labels in Glasgow. I guess there must be more of a perception that there are a lot of successful indie labels. I guess that the Internet has played such a massive role in leveling off the playing field, things like blogs and podcasts give music fans the chance to make their own
minds up instead of always being force fed their music by the labels with the biggest budgets. Not that I am trying to suggest that this doesn’t still happen, I’m not that naïve.
H: I have to agree with Lloyd, i think it really is about artists realising that they can do things themselves as with individuals. If you have the resources then why the hell not. Labels like Small Town America, Erased Tapes, Song By Toad and Big Scary Monsters are ones that I respect more than any other and if we even got anywhere near the respect that they do then I will be a happy lady.
What do you need to think about before launching the label?
H: Well, I suppose the first thing is whether we really want to do it. I don’t mean like thinking about buying a loaf of bread, but really think
about making the commitment. Secondly, money is always the next thing, it has to be. Lloyd and I are splitting things down the middle. Our first 2 projects are being done respectively then we will decide who is next!
L: I think for us it has to be hope we plan to approach things, it’s easy enough to go off and do your own thing, but in our case since it’s a collaborative venture we had to plan out on who does what. So far that seems to be working out pretty well, then again we have still to reach ‘launch day’, so we’re probably best telling you after then!
Masterminds behind label, Lloyd and Halina
How do you split the duties? And what’s involved in day to day runnings?
L: At the moment, we’re just finding our feet I guess. So for the first release I am doing more of the work in getting things up and running, with Halina stepping up to the plate when it comes to our second release. I think that should try and keep things nice and fresh.
H:I am scared about the next task I really have a lot to prove as Lloyd has been a machine in this one.
How do you go about approaching acts you are interested in signing?
H: Firstly, we decide together whether we both like the artist. If there are any disagreements then they are not considered. There is no point picking someone if one of us is not digging it. It would just mean no real passion put into things and ultimately resentment. We are lucky in that we have had people approaching us already however we have made a few secret ground rules!
L: Our first act, Randolph’s Leap, we kind of knew them already. I had asked their singer Adam if he fancied playing at the last ‘Ayetunes vs Peenko’ gig when I met him at goNorth. I had actually thought about asking them if they wanted to possibly put their EP out with me, then I got drunk and forgot. So when Halian called and suggested that we do a label, then she suggested we approach the Leap kids, it just seemed too good to be true. So Halina got in touch with Vicky from the band, and we met up with them all at Stereo in Glasgow and asked if they would be up for putting out their EP with us. They agreed, then the band got really drunk and I went home to my heavily pregnant wife – we now have a wee girl and she isn’t called Olive before you ask.
As you are a Scottish label, do you plan on only signing Scottish acts?
L: For me personally I am quite patriotic, so I would yes, whether Halina would agree with me or not I don’t know. I guess it makes sense to keep it that way, as we are both pretty clued up about what’s going on in our own backyard.
H:As someone that is made up of about 6 different cultures I like to think outside of the box, however when we have such a wealth of knowledge with regard to the Scottish music community it makes more sense to stick to Scottish artists. We really want to champion what is coming out of Scotland and show everyone else that this can be done in their communities. Do I sound like a martyr?
Who do you currently have signed to you label?
H: I don’t like to use the term signed. We are releasing people, but I would not say they are signed. Currently we have Randolph’s Leap who are our first ever release and then we are doing a special limited edition Christmas release with Esperi (which no one actually knows about so this is an exclusive). After that, who knows, we are just riding the wave.
How do you make yourselves stand out from other independent labels already out there? And what do you have to offer that they don’t?
L: That’s a tough question, because my immediate thought was ‘passion’, but then again anyone who is willing to invest their own money and time into something like this has to have that. The one thing that certainly makes us stand out is that we are very focused upon helping the artists out. The aim is to try and cover our costs with all of the profits going to the bands. That might sound a bit nuts, especially as we’re both investing so much time in all of this, but we were both agreed that we aren’t in this to make money.
H: We are good looking and really funny.
What genre of music are you looking to sign?
H: I am not a big fan of that word. Genre is so specific and we really are not into specifics. Outside of Olive Grove Lloyd and are exposed to so many different styles of music and genres are essentially derivatives of music from previous. If we love it and they want to work with us then we will release it. Simple as that.
L: As Halina says, we’re not looking for something specific. Just something good, that has a bit of originality about it. Also, we both have to agree that we like it
First band to be released from Olive Grove
What do you think a band has to have to make them stand out to you guys?
L: Don’t just regurgitate someone else’s ‘sound’.
H: It is inevitable that a sound is changed and adopted and so forth it is what music is based on. Crikey it’s an 8 note scale for gooness sake! But, as Lloyd says, be different, don’t be scared and just make sure you do it really bloody well. Think outside the box as well.
How do you go about distributing CDs?
H: It is going to be through our humble little selves and then maybe Big Cartel. We will have our own online shop though so you might be lucky enough to have our saliva on your envelope.
L: I will be buying sticky envelopes so as to avoid any saliva-esq mis-haps.
Do you have any goals for 2011? If so, what are they?
H: I think I can answer for both of us in that we just want to have as much fun and be as happy as possible. Success is a given and obviously trying to lose as little money as possible. I have this habit of getting stressed with things that I started as a complete love affair so there is a necessity that it is kept as wholesome and uplifting as possible.
L: for me personally it would be to not make too much of a loss. I would be keen to do an album with Randolph’s Leap. Plus we are also in talks with another band about maybe doing something with them, if we were to pull that off I’d be a very happy fella.
What do you think of the music acts Scotland is producing?
L: I am so heavily focused on the Scottish music scene and I really feel that it’s depressing how many amazing bands out there just don’t get the attention they deserve. It really does frustrate me, I guess that was part of the inspiration to start this project up.
H: I think it is phenomenal. There is a real buzz at the moment that I have not felt here for a long time and I am loving every minute of it. Everyone is really clubbing together and even though you so meet one or two miserable sods on the way it doesn’t impact in any way the sheer magnificence that is happening.
Any words of encouragement for anyone else looking to start up their own label?
H: Passion. It is all you need and it is a proven formula for success. It will get you places and people will recognise it from long distances.
L: It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long long time, I guess a lot of folk must feel that way. My only tip would be to do your
homework, only now after blogging for two years do I feel slightly ready to do something like this. I think Halina and I have done a lot of the groundwork, so that folk kind of know who we are.
Get yourself out there, get known for the right reasons. The internet really has broken down the barriers between fans and musicians, which
is fantastic. But it also means that there is now much more competition out there, if you can find yourself a niche market then go for it. Otherwise be prepared for a lot of knock backs, convery your passion to others, as if you don’t believe in it why should anyone else.
What Scottish bands do you enjoy listening to? Any recommendations?
L: That’s a very tough one, as I will inevitably miss someone out. Personally this year I have really been enjoying albums by Kid Canaveral, Admiral Fallow, RM Hubbert, Mitchell Museum, Burnt Island, The Last Battle, Woodenbox and The Phantom Band. As for one’s to watch out for, try Cancel the Astronauts, French Wives, Martin John Henry, We’re Only Afraid of NYC, Come On Gang!, Campfires in Winter, the Son(s), I Build Collapsible Mountains, Deathpodal, The Social Services, Yahweh, The Seventeenth Century… I think I had best stop there (sorry to anyone I missed).
H: I will try and name some different ones! I regularly listen to artists such as Mogwai, Vessels, And So I Watch You From Afar, Bjork, Jonsi, Bon Iver and S Carey. As for recommendations: Panda Su, United Fruit, Esperi, Meursault, Trapped In Kansas, You Already Know, Dems, The Seventeenth Century, Mimas, Ex Libras and I could go on forever!
FUSION 
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