Spartan Records
- Not to be confused with Sparton Records.
Spartan Records | |
---|---|
Founded | 2007 |
Founder | John T. Frazier |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | United States |
Location | Seattle, WA |
Official website | spartanrecords |
Spartan Records was founded by John T. Frazier in Seattle, WA in January 2007. It is currently home to the bands Schematic, Barren Womb, Ourlives, Shy, Low, and several others. Prior to founding Spartan, Frazier was the director of marketing at several preeminent independent record labels including Tooth and Nail Records, Solid State Records, and Drive-Thru Records. The label has been a full-time operation since January 2013.[1]
Founding
John T. Frazier has stated that Spartan Records got its inspirations from the mail-order record labels he bought while growing up. He worked in college radio and received an internship at the major record label Geffen Records and worked as part of the street teams for several other labels. He started his career working for a small indie label called crank!. After working with several other labels including Tooth and Nail Records, Solid State Records, and Drive-Thru Records, he founded Spartan Records and eventually left Tooth and Nail Records in December 2012 to work more exclusively with Spartan Records.[2]
Releases
In order of release.
Year | Artist | Album / Song | Format | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Anchor & Braille | Sound Asleep and Wedding/Funeral[3] | Vinyl | 7" purple vinyl |
2010 | Sky's The Limit | Sky’s The Limit | Digital Download | re-release |
2011 | Over the Ocean | Paper House | Digital Download | |
Ourlives | Out of Place | Compact Disc/Digital Download | ||
2012 | Mae | Destination: Beautiful | Vinyl | re-release 12" colored vinyl |
2013 | Over the Ocean | Be Given to the Soil[4] | Vinyl/Digital Download | 12" colored double vinyl |
Shy, Low | Binary Opposition[5] | Vinyl/Digital Download | 12" colored vinyl | |
Waypoint | "Solus"[6] | Digital Download | Single | |
Daisyhead | I Couldn't Face You | Vinyl/Digital Download | 7" white vinyl | |
Schematic | Color (n.) Inside the Lines | Vinyl/Compact Disc/Digital Download | 12" colored double vinyl | |
(Spartan Records Sampler) | The Sounds We're Making | Free Digital Download | Commemorates first 10 releases | |
Schematic | "Wonderful Christmastime" | Digital Download | Single | |
2014 | States | Paradigm | Vinyl | 12" Colored Vinyl |
Barren Womb | The Sun's Not Yellow, it's Chicken | Vinyl | 12" colored vinyl | |
Young Fox | Predecessors | Digital Download | ||
The Foxery | Unless | Vinyl | 12" Colored Vinyl | |
Ourlives | Den of Lions | Vinyl | 12" Colored Vinyl and Picture Disc | |
Waypoint | "Creature of Habit" EP | Vinyl | 10" Vinyl | |
Sullivan | Heavy is the Head | Vinyl/Compact Disc/Digital | Colored/Black Vinyl | |
Sense Field | "Tonight and Forever" | 12" Colored Vinyl | re-release | |
Trespassers | "No Turning Back" EP | Digital | ||
Mae | Destination: B-Sides | 12" Colored Vinyl | re-release with two new songs | |
Spartan Records Compilation | Homesick: A Spartan Records Christmas Album | Digital Download | Second cooperative work by artists | |
2015 | Unifier | Oh Great City EP | Digital Download | |
Tresspassers | Rival Glass EP | Compact Disc/Digital Download |
Current Artist Roster
In order of signing:
- Over the Ocean[9]
- Ourlives[10]
- Shy, Low[11]
- Waypoint[12]
- Daisyhead[13]
- Schematic[14]
- States
- Barren Womb
- Young Fox[15]
- The Foxery
- Sullivan
- Sense Field
- Trespassers
Former artist list
Active
Disbanded
Destination: Beautiful
The most successful release by Spartan Records has been their pressing of Mae's Destination: Beautiful. Their first pressing in 2012 involved a mix of 500 vinyl LPs including 200 white, 200 navy blue/white swirl, and 100 180 gsm black discs. After completely selling out the first pressing in 2012 they announced another pressing of 500 in 2013 on teal (100), white teal splatter (200) and Teal/white Swirl (200) these also sold out. Due to the popularity of this pressing they released another pressing of 500 copies on glow in the dark vinyl through Hot Topic and that pressing sold out quickly as well.[18][19][20] In 2014 a fourth pressing of Destination: Beautiful was released as a part of Record Sale Day 2014 on Transparent Blue and gold vinyl. It was limited to 500 copies and has sold out as well.[21]
As a result of continued popularity of each successive pressing Spartan Records announced mae week.[clarification needed] The week of May 19, 2014 spartan records announced that a fifth pressing of 500 vinyl copies would be sold 100 per day on 5 different variants. In addition to the daily release 25 sets of all five variants sold out on the first day. Over the course of the week 100 Gold/White Swirl with Silver Splatter on the first day, 100 gold sold out on the second day, 100 blue white and clear LPs sold out on the third day, 100 copies on Milky Clear with White Splatter sold out on the fourth day and 100 White / Aqua Blue / Double mint Tri-Color discs sold out the fifth day. In total all 500 in the fifth pressing sold out during the course of mae week. In addition re release of a style of mae shirt was sold as an extra to the vinyl.[22][23]
End of Year Compilation
Currently a unconfirmed tradition by Spartan Records is the release of an end of year multi-artist compilation. In 2013 they released a sampler and in 2014 they released a second colaberation of several artists as a Christmas themed album.
Rumored Future Releases
A second Shy, Low release from Spartan records was rumored to be released in 2014 but now may be released in early 2015.
Also rumored are additional pressings of mae records, and confirmed in a tweet on January 2nd.[24] It was discussed on a Reddit discussion with mae that the EP's by mae and the Everglow were being worked on for records.
Trespassers will be releasing their second EP in early 2015.[25]
See also
References
- ^ "Spartan Records Faq" (Document).
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ignored (help) - ^ "Interview #66 /// John Frazier of Spartan Records" (Document).
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ignored (help) - ^ "Anchor & Braille Interpunk" (Document).
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ignored (help) - ^ "Over The Ocean - Be Given To The Soil Reviews Indie Vision Music". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "SHY, LOW Post Sampler Video Featuring All Tracks from 'Binary Opposition' EP" (Document).
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ignored (help) - ^ "Spartan Records - Waypoint - "Solus" (Single)". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "Spartan Records - Releases". Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "Spartan Records Under the Gun Review".
- ^ "Song Premiere: Over The Ocean, "God In My Own Image"-alternative press". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "Ourlives: Out of Place Popmatters". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "Articles Shy, Low: Post-Metal Post-Rockers Release New EP RVA Magazine Richmond, VA". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "Waypoint Signs To Spartan Records, New EP This Fall Under The Gun Review". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "Daisyhead Sign With Spartan Records, Announce New EP". Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "Listen Schematic's 'Stand' Exclusive". Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ "SPARTAN RECORDS SIGNS PITTSBURGH ROCK BAND YOUNG FOX". Retrieved June 25, 2014.
- ^ "Spartan Records". Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ "Spartan Records - Artists". Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ "Modern Vinyl - Spartan Records". Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ "Mae - Destination: Beautiful Vinyl LP Hot Topic". Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ "vinyl times Destination: Beautiful". Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ "Modern Vinyl - Record Store Day 2014: The List (So Far)". Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ^ "whatismae.com". Retrieved May 19, 2014.
- ^ "Spartan Records - Mae - "Destination: Beautiful" LP". Retrieved May 19-23, 2014 checked daily.
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(help) - ^ "Spartan Records on Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "Spartan Records on Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.