Music / Feature
Cassettes, garage rock and fresh artists: Introducing KM Records
Founded in 2015 by Christ Mitchard, KM Records is the record label of the Bristol promoters Killingmoon.
Renowned around town for putting on nights around Bristol and Bath since 2005, Killingmoon focuses on garage, rock and roll, funk and punk music.
“Our first tape release was the band Beast With a Gun who I’d been putting on at gigs for a few years,” Chris tells Bristol24/7.
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“I’d recently put out a cassette with my own project Charlton Lane on a USA cassette label and I just thought, I’m going to do that myself.”
The record label’s focus on cassettes, when they were first founded, is one of the ways KM Records separates itself from other local labels.
“Cassettes didn’t have the same production costs at the time so they were a good way of getting music out there at a lower cost than CDs and vinyl, it was also starting to take off again as a format,” Chris explains.
This is true. Cassette sales have been on the rise these past few years with 2022 seeing a 5.2% year-on-year- rise, according to the end-of-year analysis of Official Charts Company data by music industry body the BPI.
The label is entirely music focused with Chris explaining that the only thing he looks for when working with artists is nothing other than the music – “it’s just music that I dig and want to get out there for other people and for the bands.”
Although the label isn’t bias towards certain genres, they do have their roots in one genre in particular.
“In the beginning we definitely were more of a garage rock and rock and roll label because this was the circle of bands I gravitated towards but I’ve moved into other areas over last few years,” Chris tells us.
“But it’s all probably got a nod into that garage rock world music,” he jokes. “Music that makes you wanna get up and dance for sure.”
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Are there any bands out there right now which he thinks deserves attention?
“There are so many great bands in Bristol right now, I love AlterModerns, Shoun Shoun, Bullybones and it’s amazing to see Emily Breeze getting the attention she deserves.
“There are so many bands that are sort of under the radar, I think, with the music press but they’re going to get the attention they deserve soon I’m sure.”
What does 2023 have in store for KM Records?
“I’m going to start recording bands for sessions to put out on cassettes, maybe steer away from albums for a bit and get bands into my studio to do a session then put them out: The KM Sessions,” Chris says.
“I’d like to do that and build up a great catalogue of these.”
The record label’s next release will be the debut album from Leathers, a local duo whose roots lie in gospel and garage. The album will be released tomorrow.
You can buy their CD at https://kmrecords.bigcartel.com/product/leathers-noisebeat-cd
Main photo: Christ Mitchard
Read next:
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- The record label that specialises in enhancing young potential, harnessing talent and nurturing development
- Bristol Nectar Collective: The multi-genre record label putting artists first
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