Communique Records interview.

So my friend Erick and I were supposed to do a zine together called E Texas Ave (named after my favorite Promise Ring song, and I think it's his as well). Anyway, due to us being a little over two thousand miles apart, and us both being really busy with life, it never materialized. This is an interview he did with his friend Ian, who ran a really solid record label which put out some really decent hardcore albums. Anyway, here is the interview. Sorry to Erick and Ian.

Ian saved my life; figuratively and literally. Before I met him my college experience consisted of avoiding my "frat boy" roommates, and sulking in my room. I was overwhelmed to find another kid who was into punk, and he was literally the only other kid who would rather listen to Orchid than whatever "neu-metal" band was hip that week. Ian was a new breed of hardcore kid I hadn't encountered before. He has a certain humble quality that I don't often see back home in Orange County. You can tell right away the kid is legit. He lives his life the way he wants to. Even if that means living in a van to actualize his dream of starting a label, quitting a job that isn't personally fulfilling, or putting formal education second to individual growth. He truly helped me go back to the life I had forgotten the first time I heard Minor Threat in my friend's room. He is an absolute inspiration and a perfect example of how punk kids should be living. This interview was conducted via email.

eta: What is your name and what do you do?
ian and i ride bikes, read books, and listen to the coup. i generally can be found drinking tea/sometimes beer.

eta: Is there a certain "mission statement" or creed that you follow with the label?
to make people feel something. So much of our lives is processed and produced. I don't have an agenda to force through, or anything of that matter. Passion can be a valuable tool on our own individual levels and the bands that I am working with inspire me. I don't deal with any wieners who want contracts or big deals or major pressings; I'm in it to give back. The thing about punk/hardcore and diy is that without kids doing shows, labels, distros and whatever else, this community/collective would be nothing. it would not exist. that is not to say that this community as a revolutionary or reactionary unit per say, it is more the means then the ends. it can inspire us, or teach us, or make us feel and that can be a valuable tool when searching freedom. but itself, will never be freedom I think. I don't know, I just do it and I keep it pure.

eta: Where and when did the idea of starting a label begin?
I have wanted to do a label for a while. at that point i was still living in the van and had money saved up and what not, so i said "fuck it". Literally anyways, so arches had there demo recorded and they are funny kids and they reminded me of Jerome's dream and i ate that shit up like homer eating a hamburger. i like having projects, so i figure this is one project that i can get some return. as for the where, i don't know, in the van.

eta: What have you put out so far?
Arches-17:48 LP think swing kids, Jerome's dream or city of caterpillar
Grand color crayon- ice eaters 7" think pg. 99 but more heaviness/grind-ish-ness
Mr. Willis of Ohio LP; think life at these speeds or sinaloa or Indian summer
that's it so far...the us, haunted bodies 7 inch is at the press right now and I'll be sending off the trifle tower/killeur calculateur split 7 inch soon.

eta: What is coming out next?
us, haunted bodies 7 inch...I'm really excited about this record, it's going to be a little more tech in the design department, then records past.silkscreening,limited record pressing and overall radical. and it's very chaotic, intense, crazy tunes. it reminds me of orchid, or Neil Perry; my favorite type. After that is the trifle tower/ killeur calculateur 7 inch and that is going to be all hand sewn covers. tt are dirty Texan kids who love Budweiser 40's, and hate jesus.intense,emotional driving hardcore. And kc is a little jazzier and reminds me of off minor.
After all that, supposedly in the works is a split with spectres and tzadikim nistarim but i just read that tn broke up. so we'll see. and after that, we have a four way split with ghost towns/mohorom atta/degania/fine feathers but fine feathers is way over and done so we'll see again. i think some more splits with mohorom atta, i have a list of bands i would like to work with but funds are short and i am limited in staff...
Anyways, maybe an angel dust "trippin' hard" demo or something

eta: What are your inspirations?
Pedal pushing, liberation, animals, Derek Jensen, etc.

eta: What do you think of the current state of punk and d.i.y.?
i think it's what it has always been. It's no better or worse then it was in 1977 or 1981 or 1988 or 1993 or 1997 or 2001 or fucking whatever. There have always been bands that will do it for money and there have always been people who do it out of love. And love is a valuable passion. i can't speak for the past , i can only listen to it and while it has evolved a lot in the last 30 years, I think it is still a wonderful and vibrant scene. Kids can talk all the shit they want but i think it says something if 30 years later, kids are willing to go broke to put out some bands record when that band is half way across the country. But in the same sense, i don't think it is anything to be glorified and maybe i feel that way because it is something i have known for the last 8 or 9 years of my life. It is an extension of my being. it is what it is and that makes me content. i don't need to glorify it, because i know what it is. It's all subjective to each person, right now, i love the people i have met and love the experiences i have had and none of those would have ever happened had i not borrowed minor threats "out of step" tape from a friend when i was 14. Shit, I would have never met you Erick and who knows...

eta: Do you think that websites like myspace and downloading programs are hurting or helping the punk scene?
in some ways yes and in others no. i, personally, don't trip on it. I think kids being able to access bands and labels and community's on other sides of the globe is an amazing thing. it's a bit of an advantage considering the destructiveness of technology and civilization, but i also know a lot of wieners, who will just download a bunch of fucking music and think its "cool" to have obscure "screamo" or "hardcore" on there itunes. That shit is easy. It takes effort to go to shows, see bands, and then buy there lp's, 7 inches and the like. I don't know, it's like anything, whatever you put in, you'll get out. Don't worry, the people who care will be around for a while and wieners will fade into still being boring.

eta: What is your major goal or desire for this label?
to get it to a point where it pays for itself and i can press as many records as i want. That's it.

eta: Anything else you would like to add?
Oh yah, I run Communiqué Records.
Go here: www.communiquerecords.org
Go vegan and collect records. They're pretty rad...the animals that is.