THE

BIRTH OF

“I thought the word evoked an idea of creation by less than regular means,” explained Max Lysobey, founder and manager of BIRTHQUAKE RECORDS. He’s referring to the label’s name, but unintentionally forces light into the dark corners of the label’s mission. That definition embodies the credo behind the label as a whole, which houses music spanning genres of gypsy folk to folk punk, surf to melodic indie. It’s creation, but definitely not by regular means. Rather than putting the bands in a managerial chokehold, however, Lysobey simply sets the stage for each band’s success. Heavy promotion online and on the street is at the crux of BQR efforts. Crafting makeshift patches and stickers is also fair game for Lysobey’s responsibilities, coupled with record distribution. And it’s all entirely from the linings of his pockets, aside from small commissions he makes on record sales. But it’s this raw, minimalist approach that shapes the connection between Lysobey and his caravan of players into an intimate one. Unlike the hulking honchos in large-scale music business, the best interest is shared by both manager and the managed at BirthQuake. Lysobey’s intentions are clear: “Everyone should love them as much as I do.” In addition to the crusade of upping releases and expanding distribution, BirthQuake’s bands got big plans for the future. FORT! THE BAND is going trans-continental with REVOLUTIONARY SMUT while the rest of the label has designs on touring in the summer season. There’s also a compilation waiting in the wings, piled with over 20 bands [including BirthQuake’s entire roster] and even more mismatched, hybrid genres. Producing vinyl remains a goal for the label, as it contains what Lysobey describes as “a beautiful visual aesthetic” and for its tendency to “force you to listen all the way through, in the order the artists intended…there’s no ‘shuffle’ feature on gramophone records.” But for now, he leaves us with a simple manifesto: “BirthQuake is awesome. These four bands are going to change your life. Buy stuff from them. The more you buy, the more pizza we all can eat.”

2ELISE GRANATA | INKWELL PRESS | ELISEGRANATA@YAHOO.COM

PICTURED: MAX LYSOBEY | CREDIT: BQR

BIRTHQUAKE RECORDSMAX LYSOBEY/CHELSEA MAIDAALLSTON, MA/NORWALK, CTMYSPACE.COM/BIRTHQUAKERECORDSFOUR BAND ROSTER:FORT! THE BAND, WOOD SPIDER, MIDI AND THE MODERN DANCE, NEW YEAR’S REVOLUTION