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Today I am at Studio60 to meet Greg Walls to interview him about his brand new record label, He’s invited me on a tour of the building and I must say it is impressive, there is two floors in this building and right in the centre of the building is a performance area. Anyway onto the interview, I sit down with Greg in his office and we begin the interview. Interviewer: Hi Greg, how’ve you been, I read reports that you left Junction Records over an argument with Max over his refusal to speak to Ryan Ross Hernandez over a record deal, is that true?
Greg: That’s not entirely true, I’ll admit I spoke to Max about signing Ryan to Junction Records because I’m a huge fan of his, but sadly they stay out of each others way, they’re not exactly friends shall we say. But that’s not why I left Junction Records, I left Junction Records because I felt the timing was right, I was basically running Junction Records from New York and I thought, “Wait a minute I’m running this thing but I don’t get the final say, it may appear like it was my label but it wasn’t, Max always had to green light any signing I wanted to make which was frustrating because he passed on a couple of incredible musicians.” Anyway, I thought it was time for me to try things with my own label, something I was planning for about 6 years now.
Interviewer: And the result of that, is of course Studio60Records, what are you looking for from this label?
Greg: Well you know I’ve got a lot of label experience, I’ve been working for record labels all of my adult life really, my first ever job was an unpaid internship at Columbia Records and I gradually made my way up and my final position at Columbia was Head Scout, I left in 2007 and decided to take a seat back which didn’t last very long, I found out about this small label run by the struggling Rockstar and his friend, they couldn’t really do anything with the label, so I spoke to them and helped fund the label and now they’re one of the biggest contenders in music. So I think I have a lot of experience and the timing was perfect. In terms of what I want this label to become is simple, the biggest record label around. It will be tough to make that happen with labels like Junction Records, Hot Eye Records and Shooting Star Records, but I’m up for the challenge.
Interviewer: And what kind of acts are you looking to sign?
Greg: There’s no preference, any genre’s are welcome, our first two signings couldn’t have been more different, Hernandez and Mind, they’re two of the biggest names in music and I’m amazed that they agreed to join us. I’ll not be looking for just established artists, I’ll be looking for the future and I think we can really develop the younger artists and hopefully we can give them something different, something you can’t get from other labels, it’s all very exciting really.
Interviewer: And would you say your persuasive enough to get people on board?
Greg: I’m not really like a suit wearing executive, I’m more of a friendly face, I won’t be forcing my acts to do things they’re not comfortable with, I don’t know how persuasive I am, I don’t have all of the business talk but I am very likeable and easy to talk to.
Interviewer: And would you consider stealing artists from rival labels?
Greg: Well I can tell you, there is nothing worse than when there’s an artist you really want on your label but they’re signed to someone else, If I am interested in an artist who already has a label, I won’t got to the artist first, I’ll go to the label and see if there is anyway we could make a deal and then if they agree to it then I’d speak with the act, I’m not a nasty person and I won’t go stealing another labels artist without permission from the label, that’s just not nice.
Interviewer: So is there anyone your particularly interested in signing?
Greg: Well that’s kind of like me tapping up another labels artist if I answer that, there‘s some amazing people in music right now and there‘s one young musician who I‘m hugely interested in, She has a label right now and I‘ll contact her label and see if there is any way a deal can be arranged but I doubt it would happen but we‘ll see, if not then I‘ll look elsewhere.
Interviewer: And how would an unsigned act get to join your label?
Greg: Well the obvious way is to send in demo tapes of your music, another is for a band to let me know they’ve got a gig and I can try to get there or send a talent scout. And another way is something I’ve been preparing, an talent search open day which I’d look to begin soon.
Interviewer: Sounds interesting, what kind of people have you got helping you with this label?
Greg: There’s three people who I’ll be working closely with at this label, Jackson Greenberg’s role is as a Vice President and scout. Samantha Carr is head of artistic development, she’s the person our acts will go to if they have any issues an Amanda Peters is Executive Vice President and a talent scout. I’ve know those three for about 12 years now and they’re great at what they do and hopefully it will stand us out ahead of the other labels.
Interviewer: And have you got any other things going on?
Greg: Yeah a couple of things, I’m eventually going into producing, I’ve been producing Max Armstrong’s up coming album My Time Now and I’ve got this burning desire to produce more albums, so If anyone wants a producer then I’m available, obviously my main focus is on the label though.
Interviewer: Well thank you for your time and this looks like it’s gonna be an incredible record label, good luck with it all.
Greg: Thanks, so far everything has gone incredibly.Edited by user 26 September 2010 20:39:17(UTC)
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