Mlada ali perspektivna izdavacka kuca! :) Discord-Records potice iz Bugarske a posvecena je samo izvodjacima koji se nalaze u najdubljem undergroundu. /Monarch/

Hail! When the “Discord-Records” was born, who was the former, and who is today in “Discord-Records” crew? Hail to you!Discord records was created in the middle of the year 2003, and I started the label myself. Back then I was beginning my own funeral doom project called Solarfall and had some friends that were quite talented in creating music.I wanted to make a compilation with all these bands.However,due to some side problems, this compilation wasn’t created, but the idea of founding the label was born- all of Discord Records crew nowdays are involved in different metal bands or projects, and the label gives them the opportunity and the freedom to create art without any pressure and in full control of their releases. I don’t see Discord Records as a business firm- it is a source of representating our music to the world. Nowdays our main purpose is representating the rights of our bands and finding stable labels to release our stuff worldwide.We are trying to give bulgarian underground the attention it deserves.

How much bands you have under the “Discord-Records” label, and is it hard to take care about all them at the same time? Well, right now we are dealing with 3 projects- my own Solarfall, Shambless and Dream Of December.There is a possibility to sign with two more bands, but I guess its to early to talk about them. I think that dealing with less bands is much better- this gives us the opportunity to concertrate fully on them, and to do much more for them. I have to say that Discord Records is not only managing our bands- we stay closely to the whole process of creating the final album- recording the album, creating the artwork,shooting the videos, searching for some labels to release the product worldwide, dealing with the promotion and distribution inside Bulgaria… And no, I don’t find it difficult because i have other sources of finances to make a living, and this gives me the opportunity to do enjoy working for Discord recs. After all, when you love doing something, it can not be a burden to you.

What status “Discord-Records” have in Bulgaria, and are you satisfied? We are quite underground even in our country. In fact every metal label in Bulgaria is quite underground. Of course our bands are not anonymous here, and that is all I care about. Discord Records is created in order to deal only with Bulgarian bands, witch is quite a brave decision, considering the fact that bulgarian metal is not so popular.If you want to make some money with metal in Bulgaria , you have to import the famous foreign bands, but as I said- making money is not our purpose, but spreading our art. Similar labels here are no competition to us- we are all fighting for the same cause.

In which region and/or country you have the best selling, and can you as not so big label make this job profitable? We are selling mostly in Bugaria.(for the rest of the world, we are trying to find other labels to release our stuff, like we did for Shambless’ second album, witch was released wordwide by Stygian Crypt Productions).Our sales are bigger in the seaside cities.

To which metal genres is “Discord-Records” oriented, and which bands have the biggest chance to sign up a deal for album releasing with you label? We are concentrated on bands that have strong concept on their music, and are trying to create something new. If a band is trying to copy the big names in the scene, we can’t get interested in it. I personally think that if any band from our region wants to attract our attention, it has to be unique. No one in Germany for instance, would get interested in some band from the Balkans, if this band sounds and acts like the german bands, if you see what I mean. Our unique identity is our biggest chance. Take Shambless for instance- the music is different, it’s interesting, and it was quite easy to make a deal with a foreign label for a worldwide release. And the bands in Bulgaria that have contracts for a worldwide release are very,very few. Right now I have some expectations connected with Dream Of December-after all, time will tell…

Now we coming to the probably most important thing that all bands want to know, and that is a conditions and criteria’s for an album releasing. So, what conditions and criteria is one band or project must to fulfill, to sign up with “Discord-Records”? Well, as I previously said, the band must have its own identity.This is the most important criteria.And of course you have to believe in your music, you have to be true.

Does this band must already have some released issue, or not? Previous releases are not a problem.If you don’t have- its not a problem either.

Then, is country of the band/ project important, and stuff like that? Well, generally speaking, it is not.On the other hand, it is obvious that if a band comes from an “exotic” country, its chances are not so big.However, Discord Records is concentrated on the Bulgarian scene, which is exotic enoght.If we achieve what we want, this may change.Up to this moment our scene is quite underestimated and it has to be discovered.The same problem appears to all countries in the region, so we have to be united to some extend.

Who have a bigger chance, bands or projects? Or, all the same? For me it’s the same- Shambless and Solarfall are projects, but we deal with them.However, live performance is the greatest promotion for every musician, so if you want to gain some popularity this is the way.

Do you frequently receive demos, promos of the bands, and stuff? Right now I am waiting for two bands to record their new demos.I heart some of their older stuff and they sounded quite interesting.As I previously said ,right now Discord Records is concentrated on the local scene, and I have the confidence to be quite informed about the local bands, so I don’t really need demos.

What do you know about Serbian metal scene, bands (do you like someone very special??), and did you received some promos of some Serbian metal band till now? I have one tape, it is a compilation called “Jugoslavian metal compilation”.So I know little about Serbian(or more precisely ex-Jugoslavian) scene.In fact I was quite fascinated by a band called “The Bloody Earh”, but I am not quite sure if it is Serbian band or a band from some ex-jugoslavian country. As far as I know you have great hard-core bands. I also know Sacramental Blood, they had some great live-shows in Sofia. I am sure that there are many other great bands from your country.

And what are you doing at th moment. are you preparing some new issue, and stuff? Can we expect something from “Discord-Records” soon? We have just made a double CD compilation called “WinterShades”.In fact this is an old release with promotional purposes, but now the “market” CD-s are ready.It is divided into an audio CD(representing songs made by Discord’s main artists) and video CD-(with Shambless’ and Solarfall’s videos included).And right now we are preparing the debut EP of my own project Solarfall.It will be released till the end of the year and it will gather my 2 old demos, remastered for the purposes of the release plus two short videos.
On the other hand,right now the third Shambless album is being recorded, as well as the debut Dream Of December act.We will start making the second Shambless video in the autum, I hope to record a Dream Of December video too.

What quality of promotion you offer to your bands, and do you try to push some your bands to bigger, commercial labels? Well as I said, all of the musicians in Discord Records’ bands are more or less involved in the label activity.So that is why, pushing this bands to bigger( but not necessary commercial) label is our main purpose. Discord Records is the means for us to represent our music- nothing more.If there is no interest from a bigger foreign label in any band- Discord records will release its album. However, releasing is not our main aim, but gaining some attention. Discord records is something like “do it yourself” label, we don’t have any strong commercial purposes.

You send promos all the time to many different ‘zines, and stuff, so tell me, did you had some negative experience with some ‘zine, rip off stuff, and something like that? Well the greatest thing in the underground is that there is one specific sense of community and support that is not so common in the world of commercial music.Of course I experienced some ripp offs, but misfortunes only make you stronger.And there always are negative reviews in the ‘zines but this is normal-after all you can’t expect everyone to like your art.However, 90% of the reviews I read are positive, so everything is just perfect.

If yes, can you mention now some of them? About the ripp-offs- I prefer not to, plus they are not so many.About the reviews- as I said our releases are more often highly valuated;I recently read a negatiave Shambless’ review from a German zine, which was concentrated on death metal and grindcore bands- well its normal for a grind zine not to appreciate Shambless’ music, don’t you think so?

What is the negative and what a positive side in this job? The negative side is that dealing with underground very often takes many of your time and money.In fact I spent all of my personal money to release the first Shambless album, which was Discord Records’ pilot release, and it was quite difficult back then. However, I like doing that, because I meet great and interesting people, I feel great satisfaction when one release is done,and last but not least- Discord Records gives me the opportunity to deal with the thing I love most- music.After all this is much more important than everything.

Ok, look this situation. Some person wants to make a record label, but don’t know nothing about this. Then ask you for some advice, tips, and stuff, and what you will say? To pay attention to some special stuff, and something like that? This now can be little school “how to make a record label”, hehe… First of all, make some promotional tapes or CD-Rs with your demo, and try to distribute them as far as possible- give them free if you want,give them to your friends, upload some songs on the Internet-gaining some popularity among the metal society is always useful.Send your demo to all zines possible.If you want to make a deal, some underground popularity is a great advantage.And don’t send your demos to the labels on their e-mails-they will be deleated. Send your demos with many information about the band, send photos, lyrics etc.Be persistant-when you send a demo, write an e-mail to the label, tell them to expect your package-most of this firms receive so many demos, that sometimes they can’t hear everything.And if anyone offers you a contract- remember that you can become a “star” only with one album released by some serious label.And of course- believe in yourselves, and don’t get disappointed if any difficulties occur.Difficulties must make you stronger.And last but not least- put your heart into your music- to have 5 true fans is much better than to have 5000 trendy guys beside you, that will forget your name when the next big thing occurs.

What is the most important thing that you learned doing this? I learned that the good things don’t come easy.To be persistant, and to believe in my enthusiasm-after all everything started thanx to it:).

Do you have a web-site? Yes, the address is www.discord-records.hit.bg .Right now it is stoped, because we are up-dating it, but very soon it will be on the net.

That’s all for now. i wish you many success in future work, and “Discord-Records” to grow in much bigger machinery, bigger then some “Nuclear Blast”, for example :) Heh thanx.Good luck to you and your zine.Be true!
Respect:
Hadelfar
Discord records