Let's get to know the Sydney-based independent label Resist Records, whose artists Parkway Drive and 50 Lions are both nominated for the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Award for Best Hard Rock or Punk Album ['Sleepwalker'' by Parkway Drive embedded above].
Below is an interview with Resist Records' founder, Graham Nixon [pictured right; photo credit 1ovakynd].
How
and why did Resist start, Graham?
The initial idea behind the label was to provide an opportunity for local
hardcore and punk bands to release their music. At the time there were very few
smaller labels and unless you were a band doing really well, there seemed to be
very little opportunity to release anything. We wanted the label to be of high
quality with the releases not only being sonically great but also as
aesthetically and artistically. At the time we were doing all ages in-stores at
the original Resist address and from this we did our first release which was a
7" by Newcastle
band FMD.
Who was involved at the beginning?
Scott MacFadyen originally started the Resist store in 1996 and I started
helping him out around 1997. The label had its first release in 1998.
What changes have you seen since the label began?
The label itself has grown and has released some great titles. The way we
approach every release is very much the same as it always was, it’s just
nowadays there is a lot more planning and time put into the releases.
Regardless if a title was going to sell 500 or 5000, I try to make sure it has
the potential to do the best it can.
What does being independent mean to you?
Being independent we have the opportunity to control what it is we do. I’m not
too phased by sales figures and what bands are selling, it’s great when things
sell well, however if I’m into the band, I will do the release regardless of
what it sells.
What are some of the label's proudest moments and success stories?
Doing the FMD 7" was pretty cool as it was the labels very first release
and at that stage we had no idea how many releases the label would end up
doing. Also releasing albums by Mindsnare and Toe To Toe has been great as both
bands have a great history in Australian Hardcore.
Success stories? Parkway
Drive's The DVD went platinum a few months after its release and hopefully
their latest album will go gold in the coming months, so those things are
always nice. Seeing the band go from playing small rooms to selling out huge
rooms has been a crazy ride, but great to see.
Conversely, any artists or investments that didn't take off as you'd hoped?
There has been a few along the way that didn’t go as planed, however it's not
as though they were major failures, possibly the expectation was just too high.
I always say aim low so you always succeed, so I should stick to that a little
more!
What's your definition of a successful indie label?
Being able to put out releases that you want to, regardless of the sales
outcome.
What are some of the values that your label adheres to (or tries to adhere to)?
From the 100+ releases the label has put out, only one or two have been by
bands I didn’t actually have a friendship of sorts with prior to releasing the
release. I try to work with people I know or bands I like, if I like a band and
they are happy for me to do their release, its all systems go. Often you will
get a band that you can see is popular and doing well and would sell a lot of
records, but if I don’t share the same enthusiasm as most, I'd prefer not to
work with the band just for the sake of good sales. I like what I like and work
with what I like, if others like it as well, it’s a bonus.
What measurable effect has illegal mp3 downloading/'piracy' had on your
business?
It’s definitely getting to a point now where you see an effect of this, and
unfortunately there seems to be little you can do about it. I think it has to
come back to the person downloading things - in one sense so many bands and
labels are putting out garbage releases, I don’t blame people for downloading
them just to see if they like the release, however with all the convenience of
MP3 players and the like these days, its hard to get someone to get out and buy
anything. If bands put out good releases, it sells, so maybe bands should look
at what they are doing a little more?
Looking to the future, do you see the role of your label changing at all?
Not at all, we just do what we do and hope people appreciate what it is we do.
Finally, give us a hot tip - which local band are you watching
closely?
Canberra's I Exist is a young band I’m
really into. They have an album out now, and expect a new album out some time
in 2011.
Thanks for your time, Graham! For the latest on Resist Records, head to their website.
Melbourne-based post-hardcore six-piece 
Byron Bay metalcore band 