No Sleep Records

Last updated
No Sleep Records
No Sleep Records Logo.jpg
Founded2006 (2006)
FounderChris Hansen
StatusActive
Distributor(s) Fontana Distribution [1]
Genre Punk rock, hardcore punk, indie rock, emo
Country of originU.S.
Location Huntington Beach, California
Official website www.nosleeprecords.com

No Sleep Records is an American independent record label in Huntington Beach, California. They were founded by Chris Hansen in 2006 and have released records by artists including Balance and Composure, La Dispute, and The Wonder Years. They have released free sampler albums on the internet on a number of occasions and the label closely associates itself with vegan lifestyle and the revived interest in vinyl record sales.

Contents

History

Early development (2006–2009)

Chris Hansen, the record label's founder, started at the bottom of the music industry in an attempt to build up experience and knowledge of owning a label. He started at Smartpunk and Fearless Records working in the mail room. [1]

No Sleep properly released their first album when a friend of Hansen offered to release an already fully-funded and complete album on his newly-constructed label. [2] The release was the Our American Cousin EP, which in Hansen's opinion was "a good 90s style indie/emo record". [1] In the first two years since No Sleep's foundation, Hansen worked as an art director at Trustkill, however was laid-off and moved back to California and focused entirely on the label. [2]

Expansion and growth (2010s)

The Wonder Years' second studio album The Upsides in 2010 acted as a significant release for the record label as the album appeared on the United States Billboard album chart. [2] No Sleep set up their own distribution wing for the United Kingdom and European Union due to the significant success in 2010. [3]

No Sleep Records won the 2011 Libby Award from Peta2 for being the "Most Animal Friendly Record Label" and so most No Sleep releases include a flyer on going vegan. [2]

Across 2012, as a promotional tool, No Sleep started to offer free music to get the attention of people. Starting with the offer of a subscription package to the label, which included all their current vinyl releases, [4] they started various initiatives like “Free Album Tuesday” for some of their lesser known artists. [5] They also released a string of free sampler albums featuring tracks from their included artists. While some, in the early stages of its development were part of a collection of short sampler downloads called No Sleep Till Death. [6] American online magazine Alter The Press exclusively announced one of these large releases. [7] No Sleep's signed bands that were participating in Warped Tour 2012 were released on a Summer 2012 compilation album which included B-sides and rarities. [8]

Artists and releases

No Sleep aspires to sign bands who contribute to a very diverse roster and for all the artists to stand out from each other. [1]

For the first pressing of an artist's debut album, No Sleep will typically put out 1,000–1,500 copies, either compact disc or vinyl. [2] They also store a few hundred spare copies of some releases for selling in a few years when their value has increased. [2] Vinyl has become a significant component to No Sleep's business model. Stemming from the fact that Hansen collects vinyl; most, if not all releases from No Sleep are offered in both disc and vinyl with die cut packaging, multiple color runs and etching. [3] However, Hansen does describe it as a costly side to the label: "Vinyl is a niche thing, it's the cool thing to do, it's not a money making thing, you just do it because you love vinyl and you want it to strive and exist. No Sleep and all of our friends' labels are definitely mail order driven. That's how we sustain and keep going." [2]

Store

For Record Store Day 2012, No Sleep opened their flagship store out of their office in California which they open once a week. The store stocks works from other record labels like 6131, Animal Style, Topshelf, Run for Cover, Deathwish Inc., Bridge 9, Youth Conspiracy, and Paper + Plastick. [2] The store also stocks, in Hansen's opinion, a lot of "key bands" from American hardcore punk and punk rock. [2] Due to slow sales, the store has closed down.

Artists

Current

Former

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AJJ (band)</span> American folk-punk band

AJJ is an American folk punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, originally formed in 2004 as Andrew Jackson Jihad. Their lyrics handle themes of shyness, poverty, humanity, religion, addiction, existentialism, and politics. Singer/guitarist Sean Bonnette and bassist Ben Gallaty co-founded the band, and have remained its only constant members throughout. The band has released eight studio albums to date, with their most recent, Disposable Everything, having been released on 26 May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polar Bear Club</span> American post-hardcore band

Polar Bear Club was an American post-hardcore band from Rochester and Syracuse in upstate New York. Formed in 2005, the band underwent multiple line-up changes, with vocalist Jimmy Stadt and lead guitarist Chris Browne as the only consistent members. The band released four studio albums and toured internationally before announcing an indefinite hiatus in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wonder Years (band)</span> American rock band

The Wonder Years is an American rock band from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, formed in July 2005. The band currently consists of Dan "Soupy" Campbell, Casey Cavaliere, Matt Brasch, Josh Martin, Nick Steinborn and Mike Kennedy. They have released seven full-length albums, two EPs, and several splits/compilations. The group is currently signed to Hopeless Records. Their name originates from a paper that Campbell read that was written by one of his after-school educators titled "The Wonder Years."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Dispute (band)</span> American post-hardcore band

La Dispute is an American post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, formed in 2004. The current lineup is vocalist Jordan Dreyer, drummer Brad Vander Lugt, guitarist Chad Morgan-Sterenberg, guitarist Corey Stroffolino and bass guitarist Adam Vass.

<i>The Upsides</i> 2010 studio album by the Wonder Years

The Upsides is the second studio album by American rock band the Wonder Years, released through No Sleep Records and Run For Cover Records on January 26, 2010. The album was recorded with producer Vince Ratti at Skylight Studios in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. After being signed by Hopeless Records, The Upsides was later reissued in a deluxe edition featuring four new songs.

Pianos Become the Teeth are an American band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2006. Their early musical style was inspired by post-rock and early screamo acts, and they were a part of the post-hardcore music movement, also represented by Touché Amoré, La Dispute, Defeater, and Make Do and Mend. The group reissued their well-received debut album Old Pride in 2010 through Topshelf Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Title Fight</span> American rock band

Title Fight is an American rock band from Kingston, Pennsylvania, formed in 2003. They released three studio albums – Shed (2011), Floral Green (2012) and Hyperview (2015) – gradually shifting from a hardcore punk-oriented sound towards shoegaze and indie rock. Hyperview was released through Anti-, a record label to which the band signed in July 2014.

<i>Good for Me</i> (album) Album by The Swellers

Good for Me is the third full-length album by Flint, Michigan's The Swellers, and second through label Fueled by Ramen.

<i>Suburbia Ive Given You All and Now Im Nothing</i> 2011 studio album by the Wonder Years

Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing is the third studio album by American rock band the Wonder Years.

<i>Wildlife</i> (La Dispute album) 2011 studio album by La Dispute

Wildlife is the second studio album by American post-hardcore band La Dispute, released October 4, 2011, on independent label No Sleep Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at StadiumRed in New York City in April 2011. The band members took control of all of the production duties alongside the album's recording engineers, Andrew Everding and Joseph Pedulla. Wildlife was their last release on No Sleep Records before forming their own record label, Better Living.

Transit was an American rock band from Stoneham, Massachusetts. From their formation in 2006 to their split in 2016, they released five albums, four EPs, and a split EP with Man Overboard. Although they largely took influence from emo acts such as Saves the Day, Death Cab for Cutie, American Football, Fairweather, Lifetime, and Hot Water Music their sound transformed from a fusion of pop punk and contemporary emo from their early releases into an indie rock sound by their final release, Joyride.

<i>Vulnerable</i> (The Used album) 2012 studio album by The Used

Vulnerable is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Used. It was released on March 26, 2012, via Hopeless Records. The album was produced by John Feldmann, who also produced the band's first three studio albums, The Used (2002), In Love and Death (2004), and Lies for the Liars (2007), and their Maybe Memories (2003) compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sainthood Reps</span> American indie rock band

Sainthood Reps is an American indie rock band from Long Island, New York, formed in 2009. Their debut album, Monoculture, was released on Tooth & Nail Records in the summer of 2011 and was produced by Mike Sapone. The band released their second album, Headswell, in October 2013 through No Sleep Records.

<i>In Currents</i> 2012 studio album by the Early November

In Currents is the third studio album by the Early November. It is their first release on Rise Records.

<i>Southern Air</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Yellowcard

Southern Air is the eighth studio album by American rock band Yellowcard. It was released on August 14, 2012 through Hopeless Records. The songs "Always Summer" and "Here I Am Alive", were released as singles, the latter featuring Taylor Jardine of We Are the In Crowd. The album also features guest appearances by Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low and American recording artist Cassadee Pope. It debuted at #10 on the US Billboard 200, their highest-charting appearance since Lights and Sounds debuted at #5 in 2006. It is the last studio album to feature founding drummer Longineu W. Parsons III.

<i>Floral Green</i> 2012 studio album by Title Fight

Floral Green is the second studio album by American rock band Title Fight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birds in Row</span> French hardcore punk band

Birds in Row is a French hardcore punk band that formed in 2009 in Laval and is composed of three members, "T.", "Q." and "B.". They signed to Deathwish Inc. in 2011 and released their debut album You, Me & the Violence in 2012.

Hostage Calm was an American punk rock band from Wallingford, Connecticut, United States, formed in 2007. Hostage Calm released two extended plays, four full-length albums, and a split with punk band Anti-Flag. The band announced their breakup on October 8, 2014, and played their last show on March 6, 2015.

Mixtapes was an American pop punk band from Cincinnati, Ohio, signed to No Sleep Records. The band formed in 2009, and released multiple studio albums before entering an indefinite hiatus in 2014. In 2019, Consequence ranked Mixtapes at number 89 on its list The 100 Best Pop Punk Bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CSTVT</span> American emo band

CSTVT, originally known as Castevet, was an American emo band from Chicago. The band was founded in mid-2007 by lead vocalist and guitarist Nick Wakim, guitarist Will McEvilly, backing vocalist and bass guitarist Ron Petzke and drummer Josh Snader; the line-up remained intact until its demise in 2013. Members of Castevet have also played in Bongripper, Into It. Over It., Lifted Bells, Tower of Rome and Weekend Nachos. In December 2010, the band changed the spelling of its name from Castevet to CSTVT, though the pronunciation remained the same.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sean Reid (2009). "Interview: Chris Hansen of No Sleep Records". Alter the Press! . (Spin Media). Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Adam Sever (May 29, 2012). "Interviews: Chris Hansen (No Sleep Records)". Punknews.org. ISSN   1710-5366 . Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Sean Reid (2010). "Interview: Chase Igliori (No Sleep Records)". Alter the Press! . (Spin Media). Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  4. Bryne Yancey (November 29, 2011). "No Sleep Records announce 2012 subscription package". Alternative Press . Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  5. Bryne Yancey (January 17, 2012). "No Sleep Records launches "Free Album Tuesday" for Former Thieves and Xerxes". Alternative Press . Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  6. Bryne Yancey (June 1, 2011). "No Sleep Records offers free sampler featuring Into It. Over It., Balance And Composure and more". Alternative Press . Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  7. "Exclusive Free Sampler: No Sleep Records". Alter The Press!. (Spin Media). Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  8. "No Sleep Records announces their own 2012 Warped Tour Compilation". Idioteq.com. June 13, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  9. "Gatherers share first single for No Sleep, made a playlist of songs that inspired new LP". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  10. Bryne Yancey (January 6, 2012). "Exclusive: Mixtapes sign to No Sleep Records, plan full-length for 2012". Alternative Press . Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  11. Sainthood Reps (February 19, 2013). "Sainthood Reps Blog". Sainthood Reps. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  12. Philip Obenschain (16 December 2013). "La Dispute announce new album, new label, spring tour with Pianos Become The Teeth and Mansions". Alternative Press . Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  13. "La Dispute Announce New Album & UK / EU Tour Dates". Rock Sound . (Freeway Press). 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  14. "Touche Amore signs to Deathwish". Punknews. November 19, 2010. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  15. "Hopeless Records, The Wonder Years artist profile". Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2013.