There’s an undeniable sense of admiration that accompanies Brooklyn/Los Angeles based label Color Station. Only four months removed from their inaugural release, the imprint impressively lays claim to a roster of six versatile artists and four noteworthy releases already. Boasting a confident introductory period full of promising gems is remarkably surprising considering their short existence so far, and only points to a stronger presence ahead. With impassioned optimism, the blooming imprint looks to the foreseeable future with no intentions of slowing down.
Art forward. Zero rules. Two key components that find themselves embedded in just about every aspect of Color Station. With their artists, it manifests in a wide range of sounds anywhere between (but most certainly not limited to) untethered electronic experimentation to gripping pop melodies. Their roster excels in this diversity, yet each signee explores their respective musical directions with a connecting fervent desire to progress. It’s a forward-thinking attribute expressed that mirrors the culminating function of the independent label: to create and perceive music without boundaries.
DIY-creative Troy Keon helms the project with an immediate vibrancy that seems at least partly (if not entirely) responsible for Color Station’s romantic artistic direction. We got to chat with the co-owner about the label’s inception, ideals, and plans for the future. You can also find the just-released Bewilderbeast deconstruction of label mate White Royal’s “Be Terrestrial” below, a massive display of dissonant tones and ideas.
Troy: I’ve learned that I can’t work for other people. Or actually, I’ve learned that I get fired from almost every job that I have when working for other people. The only thing in my way was this fear of failure and, once I let go of that, I was ready to put everything I have into something I care about. We released CS001 (Shines EP) less than 4 months ago in August and it’s surreal to see how quickly things have come together.
SD: Music as a sensory-first experience seems to be rooted within the principles of your label. How does the notion of destabilization (as expressed in your mission statement) influence the aims and values of Color Station?
Troy: I first heard about destabilization from Fulvio Di Piazza in his interview with Juxtapoz Magazine. It speaks of the confusion we feel when sounds (or art images) go to the heart first and then the brain, moving our emotions in a disoriented way before intellect helps to create order and reflect on things. I love this concept because it’s an eloquent way for me to excuse myself from having to make sense. Forget about neatly wrapping up ideas with explanations and words and instead let’s tap into the true emotional portal that powerful music creates. This is what we’re most interested in at Color Station.
SD: There’s a lot of discussion about running a record label in regards to the environment of music today (streaming services, piracy, waning sales, etc.) What’s it like being a startup independent label in 2014? What are some immediate challenges you’ve had to face so far?
SD: There’s a lot of discussion about running a record label in regards to the environment of music today (streaming services, piracy, waning sales, etc.) What’s it like being a startup independent label in 2014? What are some immediate challenges you’ve had to face so far?
Troy: I love it. I love reminding myself that there are zero rules on how we go about running Color Station. I think it helps to come into this thing brand new, not married to convention. We enjoy finding heavy music and sharing it with as many people as possible. The details on how we go about doing this are up in the air, and that’s fine with me. I know we’ll figure it out as all the moving pieces slow down. But it’s also important not to toil in the mud or be pessimistic about changing technologies or applications. We’ll always be on the other side, looking for opportunities and ways to find water in the evolving ecosystem. I was imagining a brachiosaurus the whole time I gave this answer. Biggest early challenge is always coming back down to Earth from my idealistic expectations.
SD: There’s a permeating cohesiveness between the artists currently on your roster. Would you say there’s a certain “sound” Color Station promotes? What do you look for in artists?
SD: There’s a permeating cohesiveness between the artists currently on your roster. Would you say there’s a certain “sound” Color Station promotes? What do you look for in artists?
Troy: I don’t think so, or at least it’s not our intention. Keeping a specific aesthetic or sound isn’t that important to us, and it can be limiting. Jafar (co-owner, aka Shines, Los Angeles) and I are always just looking for music that comes from a genuine place.
SD: It’s interesting that the roster pulls from a range of locations. How did this geographic diversity come about? What was the signing process like for bands outside of Brooklyn/LA?
Troy: New music is 100% accessible today, and with video calling apps and everything else, it’s easy to stay connected with people from all over. Having three of our artists living in the UK (Bewilderbeast, Gymnast, White Royal) is just a happy accident. Other than missing out on real face time, the widely placed dots don’t have much of an impact. We’re all still tight and down to collaborate on each other’s projects. As a matter of fact, expect to see all three Color Station UK artists playing your favorite London and Manchester venues together in the coming months.
SD: How do you see Color Station developing in the next few years? What are some goals you want to accomplish?
Troy: I can start a conversation with a stranger on a subway here in New York and there’s a good chance the person I’m talking to is doing some amazing work, or they have these incredible ideas or quirky talents. I really believe that a lot of people want to be a part of something weird or special, it just takes the right people with the initiative to create opportunities and invite them in. This is what I want to keep doing with Color Station. Interesting new collaborations, always art-forward. Experience music live with ballet dancers and set design, or as the backdrop for an alternative fashion show. Right now Shines is composing a new score for a short film we hope to share with everyone in early 2015. I just want to keep building our community of talented people who care about music and art for all the right reasons. That and a few Grammys by 2017.
SD: Distribution wise, it’s been strictly digital releases so far. Any future plans to expand to the physical markets?
Troy: Yeah we’ll be doing vinyl in 2015. In the meantime you can find all releases on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Beatport (electronic) and everywhere else digitally.
SD: What’s next? Any releases coming up that we should be looking out for
Troy: I’m working with The Museum of Sex NYC on co-sponsoring a show in their venue space in January. If it works out we’ll have a few Color Station artists headlining. And as far as releases, we have Shines and su na both in the studio working on albums that should be ready starting Spring 2015.
SD: What’s next? Any releases coming up that we should be looking out for
Troy: I’m working with The Museum of Sex NYC on co-sponsoring a show in their venue space in January. If it works out we’ll have a few Color Station artists headlining. And as far as releases, we have Shines and su na both in the studio working on albums that should be ready starting Spring 2015.
