23 October 2010

day 469- * Drugstore signs recording contract *
here I am baby, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours
(wooofuckinhooo)
I'm delighted to announce Drugstore have just signed a recording contract with cool indie label Rocketgirl, who will help and ensure this store will once again thread all over the spinning decks.
When I started this process, about a year or so ago, I genuinely had no idea what surprises were lined ahead, and was just pleased to have rediscovered my own voice, and a great community of fans, still willing to listen to our bundled up homemade stories and songs.
A lot of fans got in touch and suggested we set up a 'fan-fund', and raise cash to get the band back into the studio. It's a neat and interesting idea; But, from experience, I know that it's always better to have a few people around you, doing all those things that artists are not terribly good at: working out distribution, manufacturing, putting a team together, schedules etc.
But I also realised that given the current climate, the changes in the music industry, our band's own history and the point we're at in our career: having disappeared for over 7 years, that it was gonna take nothing short of a mini-miracle to get a label to commit to the project.
Well, a great mini-miracle has just happened, and as often with some of the best things in life, there's a pretty silver thread binding this story together.
This is the story of Drugstore and Rocketgirl:
Back in 94, as we played our very 1st gigs in the Camden circuit, two people approached us straight away, hoping to get a release.
The first, was the lovely indiekid guru, Neil Boyd, of superhip indie zine, 'Big Muff'; we gave him a flexi-disc of our single 'Alive'.
The next person was Vinita, who then worked at Che records. But before we could say 'yes' to Vinita, we were scooped by GoDiscs, as the generous chequebook of its flamboyant boss, Andy MacDonald, was just too tempting.
The years went by, and Vinita remained a faithful fan, turning up at gigs with homemade gifts - (remember that fluffy ciggie-lighter holder?) and always enthusiastic about our work.
Eventually, in 97, she set-up her own label, RocketGirl, but also gained bags of industry know-how by working both at Rough Trade and Bella Union.
By 2001, Drugstore were once again fishing for a label to release 'Songs for the Jetset'. I did not know this, and only found out about it recently, that Vinita once again tried to sign the band, but was outbid, this time by label GlobalWarming.
And that brings us back to the present - to the recent ICA gig last May - and guess who turns up, and as friendly as ever: the original rocketgirl, Miss Vinita.
A few weeks later she was at the cave, sitting on my sofa, bright smile brimming and as determined as ever:
'I want your next release, album, single, whatever - we gonna take the band to a studio, you're gonna do it and we're gonna release it.'
And so it is, that after all those beautiful years, the paths of Drugstore and Rocketgirl, that were always a mere 7inch apart, have finally come together.
-
I also want to mention Paul Bonham, who has been instrumental in helping bring the deal together, and the best possible source of good advice, good will and genuine enthusiasm.
A very special thanks goes out to our own El Pedro for sticking together like glue, and to all the fans, who have been supporting us, even when the lights were out:
we're in this together!
(and for the 1st time this week, this sentence rings lovely and true).
x
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further good news: Drugstore have been invited to become Patrons of that great charity that champions the rights of music lovers and musicians w/ disability: 'Attitude is Everything'.
It's an honour and I hope we can be of help.
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live snippet of new song CantstopmeNow - ICA - 2010
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9 comments:

NLi10 said...

I bought my first Urusei Yatsura T-shirt form Vinita via Che records back in the olden days where you wrote each other letters!

Glad to see that she's still making the magic happen.

The best way to get 'fan investment' is to let us all pre-order the album as soon as you feel comfortable. You get the money to do the recordings and we get all excited.

Glen Robins said...

Extra cool news! Here's raising a glass of the finest vintage champagne (well actually a warm cup of coffee, but the sentiment is there!) to you and the boys and hoping the new releases are soon pouring out of The Cave, like the coffee is pouring down my chin while trying to type and drink at the same time.

isabel monteiro said...

ahhh the excitment...
love to you both from the cave,
looking remarkably bright on this dull saturday afternoon.
x

Lex said...

A lovely story for a great great news! :D I'm very grateful life/destiny/luck/music-love and whatever brilliant it is placed Vinita on your path! Feeling so happy for you and the band!

Great idea NLi10 had, would be glad to pre-order the forthcoming new album, helping the band at the same time. :D

Wish you a lot of fun with the recording! xx

isabel monteiro said...

love to you Lex - and now even more special memories of that ICA gig. x x x

Lex said...

Looking forward to create new great memories at the next gigs...! :)
Love
Lex

Neil said...

Congratulations on the record deal! Nice that you remembered me :) I'm afraid I haven't been to one of your gigs for a while, but as soon as you do one out here in Amsterdam I'll be right down there at the front.
I did a little site about the legendary Big Muff fanzine ;) bigmuff.info

Diana Fsc said...

amazing news, Isabel!

it feels like a dream come true to me, really...
my favourite band is officially back - for no other reason than music itself - and now supported by passionate and trustful people.

thanks Rocketgirl for signing up the best band in the world!
and thank you Drugstore! ROCK ON!

and yes, I totally agree with NLi10: pre-order is the way to go!
I would be the first in line for it...

Anonymous said...

Fantastic news! Can't wait for the releases!