Joyful Noise Recordings
Joyful Noise Recordings is an independent record label from Indianapolis, Indiana. The label was founded in 2003 in Bloomington, Indiana by Karl Hofstetter, who also played drums on many of the label's first releases.[1] Joyful Noise currently has a roster of 20+ bands of various musical styles, though according to the label, each artist "in one way or another bridges this gap between pop and noise."[1]
Joyful Noise | |
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Founded | 2003 |
Founder | Karl Hofstetter |
Distributor(s) | Secretly Canadian |
Genre | Indie rock, alternative rock, experimental, doom metal |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
Official website | www |
History
In 2010 Joyful Noise began focusing largely on limited edition specialty releases which are generally released on analog formats packaged with music downloads. In addition to releases on vinyl records, the label has gained notoriety for being at the forefront of the resurgence of cassette tapes and flexi-discs, as reported by The Washington Post, Pitchfork Media, Under The Radar, and others.[2][3][4][5][6]
Joyful Noise has released single-album cassettes from Akron/Family, Dinosaur Jr., Deerhoof, of Montreal, Here We Go Magic, and others, and has released multi-album Cassette Box Sets from Dinosaur Jr., of Montreal, and Joan Of Arc.[1]
In 2012 Joyful Noise released their first album to chart on Billboard: Kishi Bashi "151a" (debuting at #6 on the "Heatseekers" chart).[7] Since that time, new music on Joyful Noise from artists such as Sebadoh, Dumb Numbers, David Yow,[8] Son Lux, Swamp Dogg, Tropical Fuck Storm, Deerhoof, Why? and others have all charted.
From 2012 to 2016, in the spirit of continuing to explore musical community-building through the release of cult artists in obsolete audio-reproduction formats, Joyful Noise offered its monthly Flexi-Disc singles series. Each disc in the series is of peculiar and notable value as a rarity but some particularly memorable entries include Son Lux's cover of Jean Ritchie's "Black Waters", several Melvins & Joan of Arc-related tracks, a duet by Sufjan Stevens & Stranger Cat, Tortoise, Don Caballero and Daniel Johnston.[9][10][11]
The Flexi-Disc's brief renaissance was the second wave of obsolete-format-driven record sales originally conceived of and innovated by Joyful Noise (after cassette-tapes),[12] later to be duplicated by other labels in the independent music world.[10] JNR is also known for producing lathe-cut records, twelve-sided records,[13] records-that-are-also-musical-instruments[14] and a number of other more bizarre and bespoke musical artifacts.
In 2013, JNR released the first 7" in their Cause & Effect series—an ongoing project pairing JNR artists (appearing on the A-Side) with artists who have influenced them (appearing on the b-side).
In 2014, Joyful Noise started their annual Artist-In-Residence program:[15] working with seasoned cult artists to release the "pure-gold material they've got in the cans that's never found a venue for release" and to continue to support their ongoing work. JNR Artists-In-Residence have included: Tim Kinsella (Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz et al.),[16] Rob Crow (Pinback, Goblin Cock, Optiganally Yours, et al.),[17] Jad Fair (Half-Japanese),[18] Thor Harris (Swans),[19] and Kramer (Shimmy-Disc).[20]
In 2017, Joyful Noise began releasing their White Label series: undiscovered records selected by renowned musicians either represented or friendly with the label. Yoni Wolf of Why? selected Creature Native by The Ophelias as the first-entry in the White Label Series and the band was ultimately drafted to become part of the label's roster.[21] Other curators of the White Label series include Devendra Barnhart, Janet Weiss (Sleater Kinney), Kelley Deal (The Breeders), Mirah, Aesop Rock, Alex Somers, Blanck Mass, Kid Millions, Meredith Graves, Make Watt, Serengeti, tUNE-yARDs, Astronautilus, Cate Le Bon, Circuit des Yeux, Julianna Barwick, Sondre Lerche, St. Vincent, Thurston Moore and others.
The label is known for candid identification with and support of radical and revolutionary politics. They released collaborations between Bernie Sanders & Thurston Moore,[22] done fundraising to oppose the Trump regime through the release of Anal Trump records[23] and stood in solidarity with Black Lives Matter during the George Floyd protests.[24]
In 2020, JNR founded the Church of Noise to build and perpetuate musically empowered community during the coronavirus pandemic and through the longtail of its fallout.
Bands
Current roster
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"Open Relationships"
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Past roster
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Subscriptions and series
Artist in Residence
Starting in 2014, Joyful Noise began hosting artists for year-long residencies in which they release new music exclusively on the label.
- Kramer 2020
- Thor Harris 2019[25]
- Rob Crow 2018
- Deerhoof 2017
- Tim Kinsella 2015
- Jad Fair 2014
Flexi Disc Series
In late 2011 Joyful Noise announced their 2012 Flexi Disc Series, which featured singles from Deerhoof, Jad Fair, Lou Barlow, of Montreal, and others.[26] Each artist contributed a single song which is not available anywhere else. Each Flexi Disc was limited to 500 copies, and were sold as a monthly subscription. Now in its fourth year, the Flexi Disc series has upped their distribution to 1000 copies of each single and grown to include acts such as Cloud Nothings, Sonny & the Sunsets, Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore and Sufjan Stevens.[27]
2012 Artists
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2013 Artists
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2014 Artists
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2015 Artists
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Discography
2003
- Melk The G6-49 "S/T" CD (JNR01)
2004
- Gogglesphere "Babies In Hell..." CD (JNR04)
- Melk The G6-49 "Glossolalia" CD (JNR03)
- Manners For Husbands / Melk The G6-49 Split 7" (JNR02)
2005
- Various Artists "Strata: A Young Person's Guide to Experimental Music" CD (JNR07)
- Gogglesphere / The Nancy School Split 7" (JNR06)
- Receptor Sight "Cycles and Connections" CD (JNR05)
2006
- Stationary Odyssey "Terror on The Hell Loop" MP3 EP (JNR14)
- Abner Trio / Man At Arms CD (JNR13)
- Stationary Odyssey "Head! Foot! And The Pink Axe" CD (JNR12)
- Melk The G6-49 "Mene Mene Tekel Parsin" CD (JNR11)
- LAFCADIO "Sham Duvet" CD (JNR10)
- Manners For Husbands "Sickly Love Sadness" MP3 (JNR09)
- Abner Trio "Distant Thunder of the Sacred Force" CD (JNR08)
2007
- Push-Pull "3" CD EP (JNR19)
- Child Bite "Gold Thriller" CD EP (JNR18)
- Child Bite "I Like Friends" MP3 Single (JNR20)
- Marmoset "Florist Fired" LP (JNR17)
- Grampall Jookabox "Scientific Cricket" CD (JNR16)
- Child Bite / Stationary Odyssey "Physical Education" CD EP (JNR15)
2008
- Various Artists "Joyful Noise 2009 Digital Sampler" MP3 (JNR28)
- Push-Pull / Prizzy Prizzy Please "PPPPPEP" 7" (JNR30)
- Man At Arms "A Waste Of Time And Space" CD (JNR27)
- Grampall Jookabox "Ropechain" CD/LP (JNR25)
- Grampall Jookabox "Rill Bruh" MP3 (JNR26)
- Marmoset "Record In Red" LP (JNR24)
- The Delicious "Postcard To My Sewing Circle" CD EP (JNR22)
- Various Artists "Defunct Indiana" CD (JNR23)
- Lafcadio "Kibosh" CD (JNR21)
2009
- Stationary Odyssey "Johnfriend EP" MP3 (JNR44)
- Stationary Odyssey "Sons of Boy" CD (JNR43)
- CJ Boyd "Aerial Roots" CD/LP (JNR41)
- I Love You "Bell Ord Forrest" CD/CS (JNR38)
- Child Bite / Big Bear "Split" 7" (JNR37)
- Jookabox "Dead Zone Boys" CD/LP (JNR40)
- Marmoset "Lemon Meringue Live" MP3 (JNR39)
- Marmoset "Tea Tornado" CD (JNR35)
- Hermit Thrushes "Slight Fountain" CD (JNR36)
- Push-Pull "Between Noise and the Indians" CD (JNR33)
- Valina "A Tempo! A Tempo!" CD (JNR34)
- Bizzart "Future Stars And Small Wonders" CD (JNR32)
- Hi Red Center "Assemble" CD/LP (JNR29)
- The Delicious "The Delicious The Delicious" CD (JNR31)
2010
- Big Bear "See Out" MP3 (JNR71)
- Big Bear "Under The Beach" MP3 (JNR70)
- Hermit Thrushes "Wooded Blankets" CS (JNR67)
- of Montreal "False Priest" CS (JNR65)
- Joan Of Arc "Flowers" CS (JNR64)
- Joan Of Arc "Boo Human" CS (JNR63)
- Joan Of Arc "Eventually, All At Once" CS (JNR62)
- Joan Of Arc "Joan Of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain" CS (JNR61)
- Joan Of Arc "In Rape Fantasy and Terror Sex We Trust" CS (JNR60)
- Joan Of Arc "So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness" CS (JNR59)
- Joan Of Arc "The Gap" CS (JNR58)
- Joan Of Arc "Live In Chicago, 1999" CS (JNR57)
- Joan Of Arc "How Memory Works" CS (JNR56)
- Joan Of Arc "A Portable Model Of" CS (JNR55)
- Joan Of Arc "Cassette Box Set" CS (JNR50)
- Abner Trio "The Giant Crushes You" LP/CS (JNR42)
- Marmoset "Doo Wop b/w She's Wearing Rings" CS (JNR52)
- Child Bite "The Living Breathing Organ Summer" CD/LP/CS (JNR54)
- Racebannon "Wrap the Body" LP (JNR45)
- Abner Trio "The Giant Crushes You" LP/CS (JNR42)
- Berry "Blue Sky, Raging Sun" LP/CS (JNR49)
- Prizzy Prizzy Please "Chroma Cannon" CD/LP/CS (JNR47)
- CJ Boyd "Alternate Roots" MP3 (JNR53)
- Prizzy Prizzy Please "Prizzy Prizzy Please" MP3 (JNR48)
- Jookabox/Kid Primitive Family "Split" CS (JNR46)
2011
- Dinosaur Jr. "Cassette Trilogy" CS (JNR86)
- of Montreal "Cassette Box Set" CS (JNR69)
- SWAPS "SWAPS" LP (JNR81)
- Marmoset "Today It's You" LP (JNR82)
- Marmoset "Vinyl Box Set" LP (JNR83)
- Sleeping Bag "Sleeping Bag" CD/LP/Sleeping Bag (JNR80)
- DMA "Drem Beb" CS (JNR76)
- Dinosaur Jr. "Bug" CS (JNR79)
- Joan Of Arc "Life Like" CS (JNR77)
- Memory Map "Holiday Band" CD/LP (JNR75)
- Jookabox "The Eyes Of The Fly" CD/LP (JNR74)
- Joan Of Arc "The Joan of Arc Lightbox Orchestra Conducted by Fred Lonberg-Holm" MP3 (JNR78)
- Danielson "Best of Gloucester County" CS (JNR72)
- Joan Of Arc "Oh Brother" LP (JNR66)
- Akron/Family "S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT" CS (JNR73)
- Deerhoof "Deerhoof vs. Evil" CS (JNR68)
2012
- Kishi Bashi "Room for Dream" LP (JNR98)
- Here We Go Magic "A Different Ship" CS (JNR95)
- Victor Villarreal "Victor Villarreal / m0ck" Split 7" (JNR96)
- CJ Boyd "West Coasting Vol. 1 - Dreams Like This Must Die (Seattle circa 91)" LP/CS (JNR91)
- Joan of Arc "Joan of Arc Presents: Joan of Arc" LP (JNR88)
- Kishi Bashi "151a" CD/LP (JNR92)
- Child Bite "Monomania" LP (JNR87)
- of Montreal "Paralytic Stalks" CS (JNR90)
- Victor Villarreal "Invisible Cinema" LP (JNR84)
- Jad Fair + Hifiklub + kptmichigan "Bird House" LP (JNR85)
2013
- "Tim Kinsella sings the songs of Marvin Tate by LeRoy Bach featuring Angel Olsen" LP
- Sebadoh "Defend Yourself" LP
- Son Lux "Lanterns" LP
- David Yow "Tonight You look Like a Spider" LP (JNR116)
- DMA "Pheel Phree" LP (JNR 119)
- Sebadoh "Secret EP" EP (JNR114)
- Son Lux "Tear" 7" (JNR121)
- Joan of Arc "Testimonium Songs" CS (JNR103)
- Dumb Numbers, Self-Titled LP (JNR 115)
- of Montreal, CS "Lousy with Sylvanbriar" CS (JNR 123)
- WHY?, Golden Tickets EP (JNR 117)
- Cause & Effect (vol. 1), 7" trilogy (JNR113)
- featuring Thurston Moore, Lou Barlow & David Yow with B-Sides by Talk Normal, Dumb Numbers, and Child Bite
2014
- Kishi Bashi "Live On Valentines" LP (JNR 130)
- CJ Boyd "The Space Between Us" (JNR 131)
- Sisyphus "Sisyphus" (JNR 132)
- Hew Time "Hew Time" (JNR 134)
- Busman's Holiday "A Long Goodbye" (JNR 135)
- Mike Adams At His Honest Weight "Best of Boiler Room Classics" (JNR 136)
- Son Lux "Alternate Worlds" (JNR 139)
- Sleeping Bag "Deep Sleep" (JNR 141)
- Divorcee "Snakes and Oyster" (JNR 144)
- Victor Villarreal "Sleep Talk" (JNR 145)
- Yonatan Gat "Iberian Passage" (JNR 148)
- Kishi Bashi "Lighght" (JNR 149)
- Half Japanese "Overjoyed" (JNR 151)
- Ko "KO EP" (JNR 152)
- Serengeti "Kenny Dennis III" (JNR 153)
2015
- Reptar "Lurid Glow" (JNR 160)
- Yonatan Gat "Director" (JNR 161)
- Stranger Cat "In the Wilderness" (JNR 163)
- J Fernandez "Many Levels of Laughter" (JNR 164)
- Surfer Blood "1000 Palms" (JNR 165)
- Lil Bub Science & Magic (JNR 184)
2016
- Yoni & Geti, "Testarossa" (JNR 186)
- Sound of Ceres, "Nostalgia for Infinity" (JNR 187)
- Psychic Temple, "Psychic Temple Plays Music for Airports"
- Crosss, "Lo/Obsidian Spectre" (JNR 192)
- Mike Adams At His Honest Weight, "Casino Drone" (JNR 193)
- Saqqara Mastabas, "Libras" (JNR 193)
- Kishi Bashi, "Sonderlust" (JNR 197)
- Dumb Numbers, "II" (JNR 198)
- Busman's Holiday, "Popular Cycles" (JNR 201)
- Jad & David Fair, "Shake, Cackle & Squall" (JNR 203)
- Big Business, "Command Your Weather" (JNR 204)
- Goblin Cock, "Necronomidonkeykongimicon" (JNR 205)
- Rafter, "XYZ" (JNR 207)
- Lou Barlow, "Apocalypse Fetish EP" (JNR 212)
- Dale Crover, "Skins" (JNR 215)
2017
- Joan of Arc, "He's Got The Whole This Land Is Your Land In His Hands" (JNR 219)
- Psychic Temple, "IV" (JNR 217)
- Surfer Blood, "Snowdonia" (JNR 220)
- WHY?, "Moh Lhean" (JNR 222)
- Richard Edwards, "Lemon Cotton Candy Sunset" (JNR 223)
- Sleep Party People, "Linger" (JNR 224)
- Jad Fair, Tenniscoats & Norman Blake, "Raindrops" (JNR 226)
- Anal Trump, "To All The Broads I've Nailed Before" (JNR 228)
- Deerhoof, "Mountain Moves" (JNR 233)
- Sound of Ceres, "The Twin" (JNR 234)
- Dale Crover, "Fickle Finger of Fate" (JNR 235)
- Surfer Blood,"Covers" (JNR 237)
- Qui w/ Trevor Dunn,"S/T"(JNR 238)
2018
- Optiganally Yours, OY in HI-FI (JNR 280)
- WHY?, Alopecia // 10th anniv. re-issue (JNR 270)
- Swamp Dogg, Love, Loss & Auto-Tune (JNR 269)
- OHMME, Parts (JNR 268)
- Hifiklub + Lee Ranaldo (JNR 267)
- The Ophelias, Almost (JNR 265)
- Joan of Arc, "1984" (JNR 263)
- The Low Anthem, The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea (JNR 255)
- Thom Fekete, "Grow" (JNR 249)
- Richard Edwards, "Pity Party!" (JNR 248)
- Oneida, "Romance" (JNR 246)
See also
- List of record labels
References
- "About / Contact - Joyful Noise Recordings". JoyfulNoiseRecordings.com. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- Coplen, Katherine. "2013 Cultural Vision Awards: Joyful Noise Recordings". NUVO. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- Lindquist, David (October 6, 2013). "Dinosaur Jr. cassette tape helped push local label onto national scene". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- Curran, Katie (May 21, 2011). "Cassette tapes make a comeback". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- Laban, Linda (September 2011). "Still stuck on tapes". New York Post. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- Pelly, Jenn (January 4, 2012). "Of Montreal, Tortoise, Akron/Family, Deerhoof on Joyful Noise Flexi Series". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- "Billboard - Music Charts, News, Photos & Video". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- Furry, Jeanne. "Former Jesus Lizard David Yow Casts Lewd, Clanging Solo Album Debut". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- "Flexi Disc Series | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "It's Thin, It's Plastic, It's Back: Flexi Discs Find New Fans". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Joyful Noise announces flextacular 2012 series of flexi disc recordings, featuring Deerhoof, Tortoise, and of Montreal, among others". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- Wood, Zoe (2019-11-09). "Back in the loop: why cassette tapes became fashionable again". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Dale Crover - Skins | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Dale Crover // Thunder Pinky // Joyful Noise Recordings | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Artist In Residence | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Tim Kinsella releasing new music, a book, and artwork for Joyful Noise's "Artist In Residence" series". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Rob Crow - Joyful Noise 2018 Artist In Residence". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Inside Insights with Life-Long Innovator Jad Fair". Weirdo Music Forever. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- S, Ilya. "Quarantine Interviews: Thor Harris - I Heart Noise". Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- Sikorski, David (2020-06-05). "Joyful Noise Recordings 2020 artist-in-residence Kramer releases new single "Vicky" [Video]". EARMILK. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "White Label Series | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Thurston Moore & Bernie Sanders | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Anal Trump | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Solidarity | Joyful Noise Recordings". www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- "Thor Harris: 2019 Artist in Residence". Joyful Noise Recordings. 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
- "Of Montreal, Tortoise, Akron/Family, Deerhoof on Joyful Noise Flexi Series | News". Pitchfork. 2012-01-04. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- "Flexi Disc Series!". JoyfulNoiseRecordings.com. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2015-06-26.