Audio Antihero

Last updated

Audio Antihero
Audio Antihero.jpg
Founded2009
FounderJamie Halliday
Distributor(s)Kudos Records Ltd/Horus
Genre Indie / Lo-Fi / Alternative / Lo-Tron / Acid Folk / Various Genres
Country of origin United Kingdom
Location London, England
Official website http://www.audioantihero.com

Audio Antihero is a British independent record label formed in October 2009 [1] and based in South East London. They have been the centerpiece of several radio BBC, PRI and international radio stories. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

History

The label's first two releases, Nosferatu D2's We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones on to Block Out the Noise and Benjamin Shaw's I Got the Pox, the Pox Is What I Got, brought the label attention and proved popular with alternative press like Drowned in Sound, [7] The Skinny [8] [9] and Pitchfork [10] and radio stations such as BBC 6 Music, Triple R, Resonance FM and NME Radio. They also gained notable supporters in Gareth of Los Campesinos! [11] and Nic Dalton of The Lemonheads. [12]

In 2011, the label released a series of EPs from Ex-Hefner man Jack Hayter, Broken Shoulder, Wartgore Hellsnicker, Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences and Fighting Kites. The label also put together a well received [13] [14] [15] [16] charity compilation album, to raise money for Japan entitled Bob Hope Would, which they followed up with a charity busk for Japan in Greenwich, London from Jack Hayter. [17]

2011 saw the label's profile slowly begin to rise. Label founder Jamie Halliday was interviewed by Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music [18] and wrote a "Do and Don't" guide to running an independent label for the BBC site, [19] while the label was featured in a short list of recommended labels on the Johnny Foreigner blog, [20] and described as "possibly the greatest one man label in the world" [21] by the Another Form of Relief blog.

The label ended 2011 with the debut LP from Benjamin Shaw (There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet) which was well received in the music press [22] and by BBC 6 Music [23] before kicking off 2012 with a second charity compilation, Some.Alternate.Universe, this time for FSID to raise money for their efforts to prevent Infant Death Syndrome. The compilation featured more established artists like Jeffrey Lewis, Jonah Matranga, Art Goblins, Internet Forever, Johnny Foreigner and more. [24] They are now working on a year long series of singles from Jack Hayter entitled The Sisters of St. Anthony. [25]

On 29 August 2012, Audio Antihero and Nosferatu D2 were featured in a retrospective piece for the BBC World Service/PRI production "The World" – which featured interviews with label founder Jamie Halliday and Nosferatu D2 vocalist Ben Parker. The Nosferatu D2 song "We'll Play 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood a Thousand Times Tonight" closed the show. [2] [26]

In November 2012, Audio Antihero contributed the Hüsker Doo-wop EP [27] to the Hear It for New York pop-up shop. [28] The EP was released to raise money for the Independent Music Community in New York that was affected by Hurricane Sandy and featured rare/exclusive songs from Nosferatu D2, Benjamin Shaw, Jack Hayter, Superman Revenge Squad and Wartgore Hellsnicker. [29] [30] They followed up this charity EP with This Christmas (I Just Want to Be Left Alone), a Christmas single from Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites to raise money for Shelter. The single benefited from critical praise from online press/radio and support from Tom Robinson [31] and Jon Solomon at WPRB. [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] When promoting the single, label founder Jamie Halliday co-hosted The Wrong Rock Show on the legendary Bush Radio, [47] the appearance was endorsed by Rolling Stone. [6]

Audio Antihero kicked off 2013 with a new single from Jack Hayter entitled "Charlotte Badger," [48] a live appearance on the local Croydon Radio station [49] and two guest articles for the GoldFlakePaint music site, a guest interview with Jeffrey Lewis in January [50] and a retrospective "Paint It Back" feature on Gary Numan's Pure album in February. [51] Following the finale of Jack Hayter's "Sisters of St. Anthony" series, Audio Antihero released a charity compilation entitled "REGAL VS STEAMBOAT" to raise money for Rape Crisis England & Wales and Rape Crisis Scotland. The compilation featured artists such as Darren Hayman, Ace Bushy Striptease, Jeffrey Lewis, Bored Nothing, David Cronenberg's Wife and more and was praised by The Quietus, The Skinny and more. [52] [53] [54] [55]

The label followed this with Cloud's "Comfort Songs" LP which was supported with airplay from Tom Ravenscroft, Gideon Coe and Tom Robinson at BBC Radio 6 Music, [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] John Kennedy at XFM, [62] Simon Raymonde (Bella Union/Cocteau Twins) at Amazing Radio, Eric Lawrence at KCRW [63] and an on-air interview with Robert Rotifer for FM4, [64] the album was also greeted with a very positive response from press, including an 8/10 from Drowned In Sound, a 10/10 from Contact Music, while Pitchfork called it "astoundingly accomplished." [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] Retail were also supportive of the release, "Mother Sea" was included by Rough Trade and The Guardian in their Tracks of the Week subscription, [70] "Cars & It's Autumn" was Google Play's Free Song of the Week while tracks were also featured by Napster [71] and Rdio [72] – Cloud was also featured as "New Band of the Week" by Fairsharemusic. [73]

Audio Antihero's final release of 2013 was The Superman Revenge Squad Band's "There Is Nothing More Frightening Than the Passing of Time" which reunited the label with Ben and Adam Parker of Nosferatu D2. The album saw a lot of support from BBC 6 Music with plays from Steve Lamacq, Gideon Coe and Tom Robinson [74] [75] [76] and very positive press response. [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] [82]

Artists who have released material on Audio Antihero

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antony Harding</span> English singer, songwriter and musician

Antony Harding is an English singer, songwriter and musician from New Mexico. He grew up on the Isle of Wight. He is best known as the drummer in London band Hefner, and has also played independently as ANT and now performs solo as Antony Harding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Lewis</span> American songwriter and cartoonist

Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer-songwriter and comic book artist.

Suzanne Rhatigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hayter</span> British musician

Jack Hayter is a British musician. He is best known as a multi instrumentalist with Hefner but is also an acclaimed folk singer-songwriter in his own right. Hayter also played with alt-country band Spongefinger and folktronica band Dollboy. Hayter is also frequently used as a session pedal steel guitar player in the London alternative scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Watt</span> British musician (born 1962)

Benjamin Brian Thomas Watt is a British musician, singer, songwriter, author, DJ, and radio presenter, best known as a member of the duo Everything but the Girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simian Mobile Disco</span> English electronic music duo

Simian Mobile Disco are an English electronic music duo and production team, formed in 2003 by James Ford and Jas Shaw of the band Simian. Musically, they are known for their analogue production. Ford is also known for his production work.

Paul Hawkins is a British, London-based author and singer-songwriter, who grew up near Bristol and has been a key figure in London's antifolk scene. He regularly records in collaboration with Death in Vegas and Dot Allison guitarist Ian Button and a six-piece band under the name of Paul Hawkins & The Awkward Silences. Hawkins has also worked with the artist Alex Templeton-Ward, utilising his bass and synth work both live and on record.

Ed Keeley, better known by his stage name Friction, is a drum and bass producer and DJ from Brighton, England. He runs his own record labels, Shogun Audio & Elevate Records, and has formerly presented a regular overnight show on BBC Radio 1.

The Lullaby Trust is a British charitable organisation aiming to prevent unexpected deaths in infancy and promote infant health. The Lullaby Trust funds research, supports families whose babies have died suddenly and unexpectedly, disseminates information on infant health, baby care and sudden infant deaths to health professionals and the general public, and works with professionals to improve investigations when a baby dies.

David Cronenberg's Wife is a London-based band. The name is taken from the Canadian filmmaker and actor David Cronenberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Larkin</span> English indie rock band

Sky Larkin is an English indie rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, who formed in 2005.

Carwyn Meurig Ellis is a Welsh musician, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known as the frontman of Welsh alternative band Colorama, as a member of the Pretenders and as a long-time collaborator with Edwyn Collins. In 2014, they worked together on the soundtrack to the film The Possibilities Are Endless which won the Mojo 'Film of the Year' Award.

Stagecoach was a British five piece alternative rock band from Surrey, England.

Benjamin Shaw is an English-Canadian musician and artist based in Melbourne, Australia. He has recorded for a number of different labels but is a mainstay of Audio Antihero records. He also uses the monickers of Guppy and Megadead.

Nosferatu D2 were an English indie rock band from Croydon, Surrey, England. They were active from 2005 to 2007 and remained unsigned during that time. The band experienced posthumous acclaim and interest when the debuting Audio Antihero record label issued their unreleased debut album We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise.

Fighting Kites were an English instrumental indie rock band from North London, England. They have been praised by Indie press and BBC radio for their unique approach to contemporary instrumental rock music, taking their influences from '60s pop/R&B outfits like The Shadows and Booker T & The MGs as well as Japanese Noise acts.

Submotion Orchestra are a seven piece band formed in 2009 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. They are influenced by dubstep, soul, ambient electronica, jazz and dub.

Frog is an American indie rock band. The group was founded by Daniel Bateman and Thomas White in Queens, New York in 2012. In 2019, White left the band and was replaced on drums by Bateman's brother Steve. White has since rejoined the band on bass.

Tyler Taormina is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and musician. He has directed Ham on Rye (2019), Happer's Comet (2022) and Christmas Eve in Miller's Point (2024). Taormina is also the co-founder of the filmmaking collective Omnes Films.

Jeni Magaña is a Mexican-American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, experimental musician, and photographer based in Los Angeles, USA. She releases solo music as Magana, and is one-half of the pen pin duo with Emily Moore. Magaña also currently performs and records with Mitski, and has previously worked with Lady Lamb, and Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards.

References

  1. "Audio Antihero: Walking The Line Between DIY And Rubbish | Interviews | DIY". Thisisfakediy.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Fan Releases Nosferatu D2"²s Album Again, Ignites Cult Following | Public Radio International". Theworld.org. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  3. "BBC Radio 6 Music - BBC Introducing with Tom Robinson, Fresh On The Net: I Need An Antihero". Bbc.co.uk. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  4. "Tom Robinson: How To Make The Best Of A Dying Industry". BBC. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  5. "WVUM Playlists - WVUM College Radio - the Voice of the University of Miami". Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Playlist: The Wrong Rock Show Ep.137 - Rolling Stone South Africa". Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  7. "NosferatuD2 – We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  8. Album review by Alan Souter. (21 October 2010). "Nosferatu D2 – We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise". The Skinny. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  9. Single review by Nick Mitchell. (15 December 2009). "Benjamin Shaw – I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got". The Skinny. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  10. "Guest Lists: Guest List: Best of 2009 | Features". Pitchfork.com. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  11. "Blog Archive » We're Gonna Walk Around This City With Our Headphones On To Block Out The Noise". Los Campesinos!. 15 October 2009. Archived from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  12. "The home of Half A Cow Records: News". Halfacow.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  13. "Japan benefit compilation from Audio Antihero | Bearded Magazine: The Home of Independent Music". Bearded Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  14. The 405, 22 March 2011 (22 March 2011). "Audio Antihero Presents: 'Bob Hope would.' // Japan Relief Effort Charity Album | The 405". Thefourohfive.com. Retrieved 27 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. "Audio Antihero Presents: "Bob Hope would." A charity compilation for the Japan Relief effort « Resonance UK". Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  16. "New Noise". Newnoise.libsyn.com. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  17. Antihero, Online (25 April 2011). "ONLINE ANTIHERO: Jack Hayter busking live at the Cutty Sark for Japan". Onlineantihero.blogspot.com. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  18. Antihero, Online (9 January 2011). "ONLINE ANTIHERO: Audio Antihero & Nosferatu D2 meet Tom Robinson for BBC 6Music". Onlineantihero.blogspot.com. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  19. Tom Robinson. "Tom Robinson: How To Make The Best Of A Dying Industry". BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  20. johnny foreigner (7 April 2011). "bloggy foreigner: my main objective is to be more effective". Bloggyforeigner.blogspot.com. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  21. "Audio Antihero presents: Bob Hope Would". Another Form of Relief. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  22. "There's Always Hope, There's Always Cabernet | Benjamin Shaw". Audioantihero.bandcamp.com. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  23. "Music – Benjamin Shaw". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  24. "Compilation Released To Aid The Foundation For The Study Of Infant Deaths | News | DIY". Thisisfakediy.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  25. Elise, Kathleen (12 April 2012). "A guide to 'The Sisters of St. Anthony' by Jack Hayter: Part One | The 405". Thefourohfive.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  26. "ONLINE ANTIHERO: Nosferatu D2 retrospective on BBC/PRI's 'The World'". Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  27. "Audio Antihero: Hear It For New York Compilation - "The Hüsker Doo-wop" EP | Hear It For New York - Audio Antihero". Hearitfornewyork-audioantihero.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  28. "Untitled". Hearitforny.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  29. "Untitled - the Damage". Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  30. "Brighton Tales -Long Story Short « geek pessimism". Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  31. "SIX DEGREES – (#7) Merry Christmas!". Freshonthenet.co.uk. 25 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  32. "This Christmas (I Just Want To Be Left Alone) | Audio Antihero". Audioantihero.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  33. "Benjamin Shaw and Fighting Kites: This Christmas (I Just Want To Be Left Alone) | Both Bars On". Bothbarson.wordpress.com. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  34. "Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites - "This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone)" (Music Video)". YouTube. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  35. "Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites - "This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone)" (Music Video)". YouTube. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  36. "Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites - Charity Xmas Single | God Is In The TV". Godisinthetvzine.co.uk. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  37. "Hospital Drama". Hospitaldrama.tumblr.com. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  38. "Protected Blog › Log in". Mratavist.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  39. Hamill, Bryan (11 December 2012). "The Ash Gray Proclamation: New Sounds Now :: Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites". Evilspeakers.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  40. "Audio Antihero - Christmas Mixtape - The Joyzine Advent Calendar". Joyzine.org. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  41. "Listening Post: Batch 43". Freshonthenet.co.uk. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  42. "Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites - This Christmas". Stubbyschristmas.com. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  43. "TOTD // 066; Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites ~ This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone)". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  44. "Benjamin Shaw / Fighting Kites – This Christmas (I Just Want to be Left Alone) « Right Where You Are Sitting Now". Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  45. "Jon Solomon : WPRB DJ » Blog Archive » Full 2012 Xmas playlist!". Keepingscoreathome.com. 25 December 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  46. "Rock playlist for Monday, December 24, 2012, 18:00". 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  47. "ONLINE ANTIHERO: Audio Antihero co-hosts the Wrong Rock Show on Bush Radio 89.5FM in Cape Town, South Africa". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  48. "ONLINE ANTIHERO: NEW SINGLE: Jack Hayter - "Charlotte Badger"". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  49. "The Joyzine Radio Show - Croydon Radio". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  50. "Interview // Jeffrey Lewis". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  51. "Paint It Back // Gary Numan ~ Pure ~ by Jamie (Audio Antihero Records)". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  52. "News | Audio Antihero Release Rape Crisis Comp". The Quietus. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  53. "Audio Antihero Presents: "REGAL VS STEAMBOAT" for Rape Crisis — HI54LOFI". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  54. "Apeman Vinyl - Download Music and Help Support Rape Crisis". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  55. "The Bulletin: Arts & Culture News | 27 May". Theskinny.co.uk. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  56. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, Roxy Music in concert". Bbc.co.uk. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  57. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, The White Stripes at Glastonbury 2005". Bbc.co.uk. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  58. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Tom Ravenscroft, Mount Kimbie guest mix". Bbc.co.uk. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  59. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Tom Ravenscroft, Hooded Fang Guest Mix". Bbc.co.uk. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  60. "BBC Mixtape 2 Sep 2013". Freshonthenet.co.uk. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  61. "BBC Radio 6 Music - The Tom Robinson Show, With Boo Hewerdine". Bbc.co.uk. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  62. "XFM X-posure Playlist - X-Posure Thursday 11th July 2013". Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  63. "Playlists | Online Streaming Internet Radio Songs and Tracks | KCRW". Newmedia.kcrw.com. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  64. "Keep me away from my computer". fm4.ORF.at. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  65. Johnson, Thomas P. (31 July 2013). "Album Review: Cloud - Comfort Songs / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". Drownedinsound.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  66. "Track Of The Day #311: Cloud - Mother Sea | God Is In The TV". Godisinthetvzine.co.uk. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  67. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  68. "Cloud - Comfort Songs Album Review". Contactmusic.com. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  69. Ian Cohen (23 August 2013). ""Mother Sea" by Cloud Review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  70. Audio Antihero [@audioantihero] (26 July 2013). "Very grateful to @RoughTrade and @GuardianMusic for including Cloud's "Mother Sea" in their 'TOW' subscription. Zola!" (Tweet) via Twitter./photo/1
  71. "Playlist : New & Good Week 48". Napster.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  72. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  73. [ dead link ]
  74. "BBC Mixtape 30 Sep 2013". Freshonthenet.co.uk. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  75. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Gideon Coe, Rocket From the Crypt at Reading Festival 1996". Bbc.co.uk. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  76. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Steve Lamacq, Steve unveils the year's new t-shirt design". Bbc.co.uk. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  77. "Album Review | The Superman Revenge Squad Band". GoldFlakePaint.co.uk. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  78. "Welcome to Fairshare Music - the home of feelgood downloads". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  79. "YOUNG GOLD TEETH: MUSIC: Superman Revenge Squad Band - There is Nothing More Frightening Than the Passing of Time". Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  80. "The Superman Revenge Squad Band - There is Nothing More Frightening Than the Passing of Time - Shout4Music". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  81. "LP Stream: Superman Revenge Squad Band - There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time | Bearded Magazine: The Home of Independent Music". Beardedmagazine.com. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  82. "Friday Mixtape: Ben Parker Curates » 7Bit Arcade". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-07.