Arbutus Records

Arbutus Records is a Montreal based record label and management company founded by Sebastian Cowan in 2009.[1] The label is named after the street by the same name in Vancouver, where Cowan grew up.[2] The label have also begun expanding outside of Montreal, signing international artist Σtella, from Athens, Greece, on April 16, 2019,[3][4] and Toronto-based trio Rapport on August 28, 2019.[5]

Arbutus Records
Founded2009
FounderSebastian Cowan
Distributor(s)Secretly Distribution
Country of originCanada
LocationMontreal
Official websitewww.arbutusrecords.com

History

Arbutus Records was created by a community of artists and musicians from the Montreal DIY music scene that came together in the 4600 square foot Mile End, warehouse loft space called Lab Synthèse. Lab Synthèse was co-founded by Sebastian Cowan in 2007. The record label was created in order to promote and cultivate the bands associated with the space.[6] Police shut down Lab Synthèse and Cowan began managing the artists that performed there shortly after, resulting in the formation of Arbutus Records. Cowan and the label kickstarted the music careers of Blue Hawaii, Grimes, Majical Cloudz, Sean Nicholas Savage and TOPS among others early on. Arbutus records fosters a family environment that is not often seen in labels of its size, and as a result many of the artists under the label have remained in the label for over ten years. The label operates as a DIY ethic community of multimedia artists and musicians, who work collaboratively to develop and release music which combines punk ethos and pop music.[7][8]

Label values
Label member Grimes performing in 2012

Arbutus Records was founded based on ideals that stemmed from the values of Constellation Records, focusing on curating individuality rather than a common sound.[9] The label considers the release of records as a creative and collaborative process, moreover that the "art [made] is that of the artist", and they will always work in service of that. Ensuring that each artists vision and desires are communicated to the fullest extent possible is a priority at Arbutus Records. The label also puts emphasis on DIY culture in the music that they release and supporting their artists to accomplish more with very little.[10]

Arbutus Records treats those they work with as family. They believe that everyone should be treated equally and have access to a quality music experience, whether in the form of appreciation or creation.

Artists

Discography
Year Album details[11]
2008 Sean Nicholas Savage - Little Submarine
  • Released: July 18, 2008
  • Genre: Pop
  • Format: CD
2009 Oxen Talk - O Mores!
  • Released: January 1, 2009
  • Genres: Rock, Pop
  • Format: CD
2010 Grimes - Geidi Primes
  • Released: 2010
  • Genres: Electronic, Pop
  • Format: CD
2011 Tonstartssbandht – Now I Am Become
  • Released: 2011
  • Genres: Rock, Pop, Folk, World & Country
  • Format: CD
2012 TOPS – Tender Opposites
  • Released: 2012
  • Genre: Indie Rock
  • Format: CD
2013 Blue Hawaii – Untogether
  • Released: March 4, 2013
  • Genres: Electronic Pop
  • Format: CD, Digipak
2014 Lydia Ainsworth – Right From Real
  • Released: 2014
  • Genre: Indie Pop
  • Format: CD
2015 Braids – Deep In The Iris
  • Released: April 28, 2015
  • Genre: Synth-pop
  • Format: CD
2016 Mozart's Sister – Eternally Girl b/w Angel
  • Released: 2016
  • Genre: Dance-pop
  • Format: Cassette
2017 Honey Harper – Universal Country
  • Released: 2017
  • Genre: Rock
  • Format: EP
2018 Graham Van Pelt – Time Travel
  • Released: 2018
  • Genres: Electronic, Rock
  • Format: CD, Vinyl
2019 Moon King – Voice Of Lovers
  • Released: 2019
  • Genres: Electronic, Pop
  • Format: Cassette, Digital download
2020 Σtella – The Break
  • Released: January 24, 2020[12]
  • Genre: Pop
  • Format: CD, Vinyl, Digital download

References
  1. "Record producer and magazine publisher Sebastian Cowan wants to create community". Montreal Mirror. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  2. "Arbutus Records". CiTR. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  3. Cantalini, Chris (16 April 2019). "Premiere: Σtella signs to Arbutus, shares video for sublime new disco-pop gem "Samba"". Gorilla vs Bear. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  4. Berman, Stuart (16 March 2020). "Σtella on Reaching Fans in Far-Flung Places". Spotify for Artists Blog. Spotify. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. "Toronto's Rapport Sign to Arbutus for Debut EP". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  6. "Arbutus Records Shoe Exhibits Pop Sensibility". Runner Mag. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  7. "Arbutus Records & Weird Canada @ Pop Montreal". Weird Canada. 2011-09-21. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  8. "New Grimes LP Due in January". BLURT. 2011-11-08. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  9. Dazed (2013-07-10). "The Warehouse Pop of Arbutus Records". Dazed. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  10. "Arbutus Records". CiTR. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  11. "ARBUTUS RECORDS". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  12. "Upcoming & New Album Releases 2020". NME. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
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