When we mention the name of Seattle we immediately think of this grunge scene from the late '80s to the mid' 90s with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, Melvins and many more. Since the mid-90s and especially since the disappearance of Kurt Cobain, the eyes and especially the ears of the whole world have turned to other countries where new musical waves emerged such as England and its Britpop or California and its Indie-Hipster sound. But since the loss of our late Chris Cornell, it is true that this nostalgia for the '90s is back in fashion and a great bunch of guys have just launched a new label at the start of the year in the Emerald City, and they are determined to bring grunge back to the forefront. Its name: Grunge Pop Records. We caught up with one of them to find out more about their determination to revive the grunge machine that is well over thirty years old but still so enjoyable to listen to for all the old-timers who knew the '90s.
Hi Grunge Pop Records how are you in Seattle right now?
It’s raining. Actually we run this label from all over world. Because of COVID, we decided to not have an actual office so all of our staff can work from their homes in whatever city or country they are in, and this has worked well for everyone it seems.
You just launched a new grunge label, what made you want to start this new project? Who are the founders of the label?
We were there from the start of the original grunge explosion and looked at what’s being pushed to the youth today - and it wasn’t as good as the bands that Sub Pop and other labels released back in the glory days of grunge. So we just said it was time to bring back that LOUD, DISTORTED, UNDERGROUND ROCK; and search for bands that have that new grunge noise. And we searched and searched and listened to hundreds of bands. And then we started finding ones that blew our minds. As for the label founders, we remain anonymous as most of the staff. The only public knowledge is that we hired Bruce Pavitt as our label advisor and A&R consultant. For someone that doesn’t know who he is, he is the founder of Seattle’s legendary Sub Pop Records and he discovered and signed Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, etc etc along with partner Jonathan Poneman. Bruce’s vision changed the whole world, not just the music landscape. He’s a living legend and it’s the hugest honor to have him involved in these two positions for Grunge Pop Records.
Thanks to the internet your label does not only focus on groups in Seattle and its region, but on the whole world. How do you go about recruiting them?
There’s no secret to finding great bands. You just have to have your ears on the street and spend hours listening to lots of bands until something blows your mind. We spend approximately two hours each morning listening to demo submissions. We’ve received about one thousand submissions since we started not even a year ago.
What advice will you give so that a group can sign with you?
Their music has to be as great as any great band from that original Seattle era. We’re not looking to introduce a new genre of rock, we just want to bring back the realness of that era. Our label’s mission is to be the “new sound of rock” and to see our bands become the mainstream “rock” sound as compared to what’s on the top of the global charts now, which is predominantly solo artists that go by a band name moniker and their music is over-produced rap style garbage to our ears. We only want real rock bands that write their own music and can bring back the name of rock as it should be. The youth are finally getting bored with rap and more and more are listening to bands like Nirvana and they’re open finally to finding new bands that carry that grunge flame. The youth never got to be part of the ‘90s grunge scene and this is there chance to be a part of a new movement that they can call their own.
How many bands do you have on your label so far?
We have ten bands at the moment since starting in March of 2021.
Still no French band in sight?
We’re open to any band from any country. We just haven’t found a French band yet that is as great as Nirvana or Soundgarden, but it’s all possible. Any recommendations?
I'll send you some bands then.
The first album of the label to be released is that of Prince Of Lilies, and it was produced by Steve Albini? How does it feel to have his label's first album to be produced by legendary Steve Albini?
It’s very cool since Albini stands for real bands making real music. He’s a living legend who has become synonymous with the words “utter respect”.
When we talk about Seattle, we obviously think of the whole wave of the ‘80s and early ‘90s with Nirvana, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bones, Melvins, Alice In Chains ... Do you think that a scene as rich and impactful than that of the '90s can resurface after all these years, but especially with a new burst of freshness?
Yes. It won’t be the same because people have closed minds to accepting something new unless it’s forced down their throats non stop, but there are scenes growing bigger each day all around the world that are revolving around that original grunge Seattle sound. Even BritGrunge is become a reality with the grunge revival being strongest out of the UK at the moment.
A British journalist named Everett True from Melody Maker magazine had heard in the '80s that a scene was forming in Seattle and he came directly to see if what he was hearing from England was true. In addition to being blown away by the bands of the time, what also marked him was the public who went to the concert. Are the public still as crazy and present at each concert as in the '80s?
Oh yes. But only in the DIY underground shows or at underage shows that allow the youth to come. In the USA, most venues are 21 and over so the youth can’t see live bands, but the house parties and shows that allow underage kids go wild. Extremely wild like back in the day.
What are your goals for 2022?
To see the mainstream music industry, from radio to press, put real rock bands on top and to see our bands be on the top of the charts globally where they belong. Our bands have some songwriters that deserve massive recognition and they are great live too. We expect that in a few years some of our bands will be the biggest bands in the world and headlining major festivals.
Is a concert coming up with the label's bands in Seattle? And why not invite a band from the '80s' and ‘90s like the Mudhoney or the Melvins for example?
It’s all happening. We’re talking with those bands to include some of our bands on their tours and things are happening.
Do you have contact with all these bands of the time?
We can contact most any band out there. It’s who you know in this business unfortunately but it’s good for us too I guess.
Thank you for answering my questions. Long live Grunge Pop Records. Grunge Is Not Dead.
Thank you Gian, it was a pleasure to answer your questions. The grunge revival is coming.
🇫🇷 Lorsqu'on évoque le nom de Seattle on pense tout de suite à cette scène grunge de la fin des années '80s jusqu'à la moitié des '90s avec des groupes comme Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, Melvins et bien d'autres. Depuis la moitié des '90s et surtout depuis la disparition de Kurt Cobain, les yeux et surtout les oreilles du monde entier se sont dirigés vers d'autres contrées où de nouvelles vagues musicales émergeaient telle que l'Angleterre et sa Britpop ou la Californie et son nu metal. Mais depuis la perte de notre regretté Chris Cornell, il est vrai que cette nostalgie des '90s revient au goût du jour, et une belle bande de gars vient de lancer l'année dernière un nouveau label dans la cité émeraude, et ils sont bien décidés à remettre le grunge sur le devant de la scène. Son nom : Grunge Pop Records. Nous avons rencontré l'un d'eux pour en savoir un peu plus sur leur détermination à relancer la machine grunge, vieille d'une bonne trentaine d'années, mais toujours aussi agréable à écouter pour tous les anciens qui ont connu les '90s.
🇺🇲 When we mention the name of Seattle we immediately think of this grunge scene from the late '80s to the mid' 90s with bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, Melvins and many more. Since the mid-90s and especially since the demise of Kurt Cobain, the eyes and also the ears of the entire world turned to other countries where new musical waves emerged, such as England and its Britpop or California and its nu metal sound. But since the loss of our late Chris Cornell, it is true that this nostalgia for the '90s is back in fashion and a great bunch of guys have just launched a new label last year in the Emerald City, and they are determined to bring grunge back to the forefront. Its name: Grunge Pop Records. We caught up with one of them to find out more about their determination to revive the grunge machine that is over thirty years old but still so enjoyable to listen to, for all the veterans who knew the '90s.
🇫🇷 Salut Grunge Pop Records comment ça va à Seattle en ce moment ?
🇺🇲 Hi Grunge Pop Records. How are you in Seattle right now?
🇫🇷 Il pleut. En fait, nous gérons ce label depuis le monde entier. À cause du COVID, nous avons décidé de ne pas avoir de vrai bureau afin que tout notre personnel puisse travailler depuis leur domicile, quelle que soit la ville ou le pays où ils se trouvent, et cela a bien fonctionné pour tout le monde, semble-t-il.
🇺🇲 It’s raining. Actually we run this label from all over world. Because of COVID, we decided to not have an actual office so all of our staff can work from their homes in whatever city or country they are in, and this has worked well for everyone it seems.
🇫🇷 Vous venez de lancer un nouveau label grunge, qu'est ce qui vous a donné l'envie de monter ce nouveau projet ? Qui sont les fondateurs du label ?
🇺🇲 You just launched a new grunge label, what made you want to start this new project? Who are the founders of the label?
🇫🇷 Nous étions là au début de l'explosion originale du grunge et avons regardé ce qui est proposé aux jeunes d'aujourd'hui - et ce n'était pas aussi bon que les groupes que Sub Pop et d'autres labels sortis à l'époque glorieuse du grunge. Nous avons donc simplement dit qu'il était temps de ramener ce ROCK UNDERGROUND BRUYANT ET DISTORDU; et de rechercher des groupes qui ont ce nouveau son grunge. Et nous avons cherché et cherché, et écouté des centaines de groupes. Et puis nous avons commencé à en trouver qui nous ont époustouflés. Quant aux fondateurs du label, nous restons anonymes comme la plupart du personnel. La seule chose publique est que nous avons embauché Bruce Pavitt en tant que conseiller et consultant. Pour ceux qui ne le connaissent pas, il est le fondateur du légendaire label Sub Pop Records de Seattle et il a découvert et signé Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, etc. etc., avec son partenaire Jonathan Poneman. La vision de Bruce a changé le monde entier, pas seulement le paysage musical. C'est une légende vivante et c'est un immense honneur de l'avoir impliqué dans ces deux fonctions pour Grunge Pop Records.
🇺🇲 We were there from the start of the original grunge explosion and looked at what’s being pushed to the youth today - and it wasn’t as good as the bands that Sub Pop and other labels released back in the glory days of grunge. So we just said it was time to bring back that LOUD, DISTORTED, UNDERGROUND ROCK; and search for bands that have that new grunge noise. And we searched and searched and listened to hundreds of bands. And then we started finding ones that blew our minds. As for the label founders, we remain anonymous as most of the staff. The only public knowledge is that we hired Bruce Pavitt as our label advisor and A&R consultant. For someone that doesn’t know who he is, he is the founder of Seattle’s legendary Sub Pop Records and he discovered and signed Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, etc etc along with partner Jonathan Poneman. Bruce’s vision changed the whole world, not just the music landscape. He’s a living legend and it’s the hugest honor to have him involved in these two positions for Grunge Pop Records.
🇫🇷 Grâce à internet votre label ne se focalise pas seulement sur les groupes de Seattle et sa région, mais sur le monde entier. Comment faites vous pour les recruter ?
🇺🇲 Thanks to the internet your label does not only focus on groups in Seattle and its region, but on the whole world. How do you go about recruiting them?
🇫🇷 Il n'y a pas de secret pour trouver de bons groupes. Il suffit d'avoir les oreilles dans la rue et de passer des heures à écouter de nombreux groupes jusqu'à ce que quelque chose vous saute aux yeux. Nous passons environ deux heures chaque matin à écouter des démos. Nous avons reçu environ un millier de propositions depuis que nous avons commencé le label il y a à peine un an.
🇺🇲 There’s no secret to finding great bands. You just have to have your ears on the street and spend hours listening to lots of bands until something blows your mind. We spend approximately two hours each morning listening to demo submissions. We’ve received about one thousand submissions since we started not even a year ago.
🇫🇷 Quel conseil donneriez vous pour qu'un groupe puisse signer chez vous ?
🇺🇲 What advice will you give so that a band can sign with you?
🇫🇷 Leur musique doit être aussi géniale que n'importe quel grand groupe de la grande époque de Seattle. Nous ne cherchons pas à introduire un nouveau genre de rock, nous voulons simplement ramener la réalité de cette époque. La mission de notre label est d'être le « nouveau son du rock » et de voir nos groupes devenir le son « rock » grand public par rapport à ce qui se trouve actuellement au sommet des charts mondiaux, qui sont principalement des artistes solo qui portent un surnom de groupe, et dont la musique est une sorte de rap surproduit, de la daube à nos oreilles. Nous ne voulons que de vrais groupes de rock qui écrivent leur propre musique et peuvent ramener le nom du rock à la place qui lui incombe. Les jeunes s'ennuient avec le rap et de plus en plus écoutent des groupes comme Nirvana et ils sont enfin ouverts à découvrir de nouveaux groupes qui portent cette flamme du grunge. Les jeunes n'ont jamais fait partie de la scène grunge des années 90's et c'est là leur chance de faire partie d'un nouveau mouvement qu'ils peuvent appeler le leur.
🇺🇲 Their music has to be as great as any great band from that original Seattle era. We’re not looking to introduce a new genre of rock, we just want to bring back the realness of that era. Our label’s mission is to be the “new sound of rock” and to see our bands become the mainstream “rock” sound as compared to what’s on the top of the global charts now, which is predominantly solo artists that go by a band name moniker and their music is over-produced rap style garbage to our ears. We only want real rock bands that write their own music and can bring back the name of rock as it should be. The youth are finally getting bored with rap and more and more are listening to bands like Nirvana and they’re open finally to finding new bands that carry that grunge flame. The youth never got to be part of the ‘90s grunge scene and this is there chance to be a part of a new movement that they can call their own.
🇫🇷 Combien de groupes avez vous sur votre label pour l'instant ?
🇺🇲 How many bands do you have on your label so far?
🇫🇷 Nous avons dix groupes en ce moment depuis le début en mars 2021.
🇺🇲 We have ten bands at the moment since starting in March of 2021.
🇫🇷 Toujours pas de groupe français en vue ?
🇺🇲 Still no French band in sight?
🇫🇷 Nous sommes ouverts à tous les groupes de tous les pays. Nous n'avons pas encore trouvé de groupe français aussi génial que Nirvana ou Soundgarden, mais tout est possible. Des recommandations ?
🇺🇲 We’re open to any band from any country. We just haven’t found a French band yet that is as great as Nirvana or Soundgarden, but it’s all possible. Any recommendations ?
🇫🇷 Je vais t'envoyer quelques groupes alors. Le premier album du label a être sorti est celui des Prince Of Lilies, qui a été produit par Steve Albini ? Qu'est ce que ça fait d'avoir le premier album de son label à être produit par le légendaire Steve Albini ?
🇺🇲 I'll send you some bands then. The first album of the label to be released is that of Prince Of Lilies, and it was produced by Steve Albini? How does it feel to have his label's first album to be produced by legendary Steve Albini?
🇫🇷 C'est très cool car Albini représente de vrais groupes faisant de la vraie musique. C'est une légende vivante qui est devenue synonyme des mots "respect absolu".
🇺🇲 It’s very cool since Albini stands for real bands making real music. He’s a living legend who has become synonymous with the words “utter respect”.
🇫🇷Quand on parle de Seattle, on pense bien évidemment à toute la vague des années 80 et début 90 avec Nirvana, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bones, Melvins, Alice In Chains ... Pensez vous qu'une scène aussi riche et percutante que celle des '90s peut refaire surface après toutes ces années, mais surtout avec un nouvel élan de fraîcheur ?
🇺🇲 When we talk about Seattle, we obviously think of the whole wave of the ‘80s and early ‘90s with Nirvana, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bones, Melvins, Alice In Chains ... Do you think that a scene as rich and impactful than that of the '90s can resurface after all these years, but especially with a new burst of freshness?
🇫🇷 Oui. Ce ne sera pas la même chose parce que les gens ont l'esprit fermé pour accepter quelque chose de nouveau à moins que cela ne leur soit imposé sans arrêt, mais il y a des scènes qui grandissent chaque jour partout dans le monde et qui tournent autour de ce son grunge original de Seattle. Même le BritGrunge est devenu une réalité, le renouveau du grunge étant actuellement le plus fort au Royaume-Uni.
🇺🇲 Yes. It won’t be the same because people have closed minds to accepting something new unless it’s forced down their throats non stop, but there are scenes growing bigger each day all around the world that are revolving around that original grunge Seattle sound. Even BritGrunge is become a reality with the grunge revival being strongest out of the UK at the moment.
🇫🇷 Un journaliste britannique du NME avait entendu parler dans les années '80s qu'une scène était en train de se former à Seattle et il est venu directement voir sur place si ce qu'il entendait depuis l'Angleterre était vrai. En plus d'avoir été époustouflé par les groupes de l'époque, ce qui l'a aussi marqué c'est le public qui se rendait au concert. Est ce que le public est toujours aussi dingue et présent à chaque concert que dans les années '80s ?
🇺🇲 A British journalist named Everett True from Melody Maker magazine had heard in the '80s that a scene was forming in Seattle and he came directly to see if what he was hearing from England was true. In addition to being blown away by the bands of the time, what also marked him was the public who went to the concert. Are the public still as crazy and present at each concert as in the '80s?
🇫🇷 Oh oui. Mais seulement dans les shows underground DIY ou dans les shows mineurs qui permettent aux jeunes de venir. Aux États-Unis, il faut avoir 21 ans et plus pour entrer dans la plupart des salles, donc les jeunes ne peuvent pas voir de groupes en live, mais les fêtes et les spectacles à la maison permettent aux mineurs de se déchaîner. Extrêmement sauvage comme à l'époque.
🇺🇲 Oh yes. But only in the DIY underground shows or at underage shows that allow the youth to come. In the USA, most venues are 21 and over so the youth can’t see live bands, but the house parties and shows that allow underage kids go wild. Extremely wild like back in the day.
🇫🇷 Quels sont vos objectifs pour 2022 ?
🇺🇲 What are your goals for 2022?
🇫🇷 Voir l'industrie de la musique grand public, de la radio et de la presse, mettre de vrais groupes de rock au sommet et voir nos groupes être au sommet des palmarès mondiaux, là où ils doivent être. Nos groupes ont des auteurs-compositeurs qui méritent une reconnaissance massive, et ils sont aussi excellents en live. Nous prévoyons que dans quelques années, certains de nos groupes seront les plus grands groupes du monde et les têtes d'affiche de grands festivals.
🇺🇲 To see the mainstream music industry, from radio to press, put real rock bands on top and to see our bands be on the top of the charts globally where they belong. Our bands have some songwriters that deserve massive recognition and they are great live too. We expect that in a few years some of our bands will be the biggest bands in the world and headlining major festivals.
🇫🇷 Est-ce qu'un concert est à venir avec les groupes du label à Seattle ? Et pourquoi pas inviter un groupe des années '80s '90s comme les Mudhoney ou les Melvins par exemple ?
🇺🇲 Is a concert coming up with the label's bands in Seattle? And why not invite a band from the '80s' and ‘90s like the Mudhoney or the Melvins for example?
🇫🇷 C'est en cours. Nous discutons avec ces groupes pour inclure certains de nos groupes dans leurs tournées et il va se passer des choses.
🇺🇲 It’s all happening. We’re talking with those bands to include some of our bands on their tours and things are happening.
🇫🇷 Avez vous des contacts avec tous ces groupes de l'époque ?
🇺🇲 Do you have contact with all these bands of the time?
🇫🇷 Nous pouvons contacter presque tous les groupes. C'est qui vous connaissez dans ce métier malheureusement mais c'est bon pour nous aussi je suppose.
🇺🇲 We can contact most any band out there. It’s who you know in this business unfortunately but it’s good for us too I guess.
🇫🇷 Merci d'avoir répondu à mes questions. Longue vie à Grunge Pop Records. Grunge Is Not Dead.
🇺🇲 Thank you for answering my questions. Long live Grunge Pop Records. Grunge Is Not Dead.
