With hundreds of exciting releases announced for this year’s Record Store Day, the birth of a new, singles-only record label is extremely well-timed.
The multi ARIA-award winning music manager of Kimbra and Bertie Blackman has launched his own boutique singles label in the Melbourne-based Monocarpic Recordings.
Mark Richardson, director of Outpost Management, stated in a press release that he “wanted to start a label to enable artists to showcase individual songs.”
With that in mind, the partnership between the artist and label will be for the contract of just one song, with “no restraint or commitment for either party beyond the single release,” as stated on the Monocarpic Recordings website.
Spawned as a reaction to the current state of the recording industry, Richardson believes, “the current record business is restricted by long inhibitive contracts built essentially on short term commitment… Monocarpic will produce, market and distribute the release…profits will be split 50/50.”
The first artist to be a part of this new venture is Melbourne soul singer, Jack Byrnes. Produced by legendary Aussie hip-hop producer, M-Phazes, the release, “You’ve Been Left Behind”, is a bass-driven, synth-heavy electronic track ably led by Byrnes’ powerful vocals.
Keeping in line with their single philosophy, Monocarpic – which is the term used for a plant that flowers just once before setting seeds and dying – will “release one single every month” from a different artist, that will eventually all feature on a 12-month compilation album. Richardson aims to accompany the release of the album with “an end of cycle 12 releases/year concert.” The partnership between the artist and label will be for the contract of just one song, with “no restraint or commitment for either party beyond the single release”
The single also comes with a “night mix” – a smooth remix of the track by Perth producer, Sid Pattni, who released his own debut EP, “Le Vidé” last year. The remix is said to contrast with M-Phazes original “day” mix, according to Pattni’s Facebook page.
Monocarpic Recordings is an exciting new venture for the man who is no stranger to the world of music discovery. An original founder of (now disbanded) Forum5 Music Management, Richardson is often cited as the man who discovered the 18-year old New Zealander by the name of Kimbra.
Before she became the Grammy-winning, chart topping, international superstar that she is today (thanks in part to old mate, Gotye), she was on Richardson’s books at the Fremantle Media-collaborated talent management company. Richardson also manages local artist Bertie Blackman, who under Forum5 won the ARIA for her 2009 album, Secrets and Lies.
Founded in late 2007, the label split in 2010 and Richardson went on to found Outpost Management, which also manages The Hello Morning and local acts Cullen and Polygon Palace.
You can listen to the first release from the newly-birthed Monocarpic Recordings, Jack Byrne’s ‘You’ve Been Left Behind’, along with the ‘Night Mix’ below:
