Artoffact Records is a Canadian label based in Toronto that has released over 100 industrial, synthpop, rock, and metal albums since the label was founded in 1999. I listen to a lot of music but when it’s a release from Artoffact, I take notice because it’s bound to be great. Some of my personal faves have been Alice in Videoland, Massiv in Mensch, and, more recently, Saltillo. Artoffact consistently releases such great music that it’s a crime I have showcased their label by now.
Jacek Kozlowski is the founder of Artoffact Records and he’s been kind enough to put together a mix of tracks from his label featuring some crucial releases from 2011 and 2012. He was also cool enough to talk shop about Artoffact and the music industry in general.
When I first started showcasing labels on solipsistic NATION I think I was caught up in the romance of what it would be like to run a label. But as the years have gone by I’ve come to realize how much sweat equity it takes to run a music label. No sane person would spend that much time and energy in such an endeavour. No, point of fact, it takes passion. So I guess the romance is still there, after all.
Anyway, to get back to my point, as I’ve come to appreciate the hard work that goes into running a label I’ve begun what, I hope, are very pragmatic questions. How do you sign an artist and who do you develop that artist once you do. Practicalities aside, there’s also the art of being managing artists. I’m generalizing here but most musicians I’ve met will gladly go on and on why they lovingly and painstaking purchased the gear they have or give a spur of the moment dissertation on their art and their music but it’s another thing entirely when it comes to the quotidian business of being, well… business.
Hey, cut me some slack here. I said I was generalizing.
Jacek gave some very insightful and considered answers to my questions on today’s show. He also delivered some kick ass tunes so enjoy! Bonus, there are some free tracks below you can download for your continued pleasure but by all means, purchase a track or two. Artists need to eat and after all, it is a business.
- Saltillo “A Hair on the Head of John the Baptist”
- Interview with Jacek Kozlowski, founder of Artoffact Records
- Necro Facility “Cuts”
- Encephalon “Scar on Scar on Scar”
- Dead When I Found Her “New Age of Reason” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
- Blank “TimeSpace” [FREE DOWNLOAD]
- Saltillo “If Wishes Were Catholics”
- Interview with Jacek Kozlowski, founder of Artoffact Records
- Alice in Videoland “Something New”
- Mona Mur / En Esch “Eiskalt”
- Vigilante “Army of Time (feat. Victor Love of Dopestars Inc.)”
- Omega Lithium “Dance With Me”
- Jesus on Extasy “Lost in Time”
- Ascii.Disko “Butterflies”
- Interview with Jacek Kozlowski, founder of Artoffact Records