INDAMIXWORLDWIDE.COM - The Disco to House Music Daily Update - WMC 07: SLAAG RECORDS

Glenn Thornton

SLAAG RECORDS: STATE OF INDEPENDENCE

Much respect to all of those who, by their faith, time, energy and investments, contribute to maintain the (audio) diversity alive against all odds!!! NYC Slaag Records label head, Glenn Thornton’s current situation exemplifying the obligation made to our scene/system to define a new balance to fit with this new environment...

Hi Glenn, wassup? I guess the pressure starts to climb at the perspective of goin’ for another round to Miami, by the time we speak. One reaction?

I hope all this time and money gets a great result!!

Do you remember your first time ever there? How was it?

My first time was 1998. I felt as if I had "arrived" into the world of professionals and was now really "in the industry". I learned a lot that year, though a bit stiff feeling like an outsider trying to get in.

Your best souvenir...

Never thought about it, I don't really have one.

How has you seen its evolution since?

It has become what I call a "DJ Gang Bang" where most parties are about how many DJ's can play in a set time. It was about the labels and their artists, their DJ's who directly worked on label projects. It has evolved into a big party and away from a legitimate industry insider event.

How important is it for you as a label manager? Does it have a real impact on your sales?

As a manager and owner I can guide the direction of the label, in my case labels (SLAAG RECORDS & SLAAG TRAAX) to changing tastes and directions. I can affect sales through the music released and the type of and amount of promotion done.

One thing you would like to be changed?

I'd like to see "consumers" get into buying our music because they have a passion for it and a loyalty to it. I want them to buy the music because they feel it is worth spending that money.

Much has been said as far as havin’ a event there is concerned. Tell us about your experience. Is this any kind of nightmare at the end of the day?

The BIG one is NOT meeting a bar guarantee and having to lay out a few thousand dollars to cover the bill.

Tell us about your event this year...

SLAAG has teamed up with Ron Carroll's label Body Music Chicago (BMC) to create an event focused on the artists we have releases for. Both of our labels are artist driven. We put the artist out in front where they belong as opposed to the many efforts where it is "DJ who featuring Artist". So we put our event together with Live Performances by Ce Ce Peniston, Dawn Tallman, Mona Lisa, Remmidy, Tru-Luv and from Amsterdam guests Risk Sound System hosted by Eddie Nicholas. Ron and I are the only DJ's for the event.

Your new releases and the projects you wish to see gettin’ some exposure over there...

Remmidy is SLAAG RECORDS new artist and her first release from a forthcoming album is ‘Goochie Song’. Eddie Nicholas is on his sophmore outing with ‘You Left Me’. And we are celebrating the continued rise and success of Dawn Tallman (Queen of Gospel Energy)'s’You Are Why’. It currently has a top 15 position on the Club Play Chart with an extended radio mix by Bobby D'Ambrosio and dub by Claudio DeLigouri

Let us know a bit more about your imprint... What has got you into it?

I wanted to expand my vision of a "real" record label. One that released MUSIC, not just house, not just R & B. I wanted to give dance music a face and a name again for the artists whose voices you hear. I want people to get into the artists from their presence as well as their INDIVIDUAL sound.

How about the signification of its name?

SLAAG to me means...something out of nothing. The swirl logo reflects that in its design and the releases and my work to put them out reflects making something out of sweat, creativity, thought and passion.

Your influences. The labels which you’ve seen as references...

Arista, Atlantic, Stax and mostly Motown. They are all independents that carved out their own standing with diverse artists and sounds.

Your biggest success so far...

‘You Are Why’ by Dawn Tallman.

Your biggest disappointment...

Sales... especially sales of my second release ‘Heavenly Light’ by Dawn Tallman

How is it to run an independant label nowadays?

A struggle EVERYDAY...I take a nap in the middle of the day to regroup.

Suppose bein’ a new comer today, would you do this again?

Yes.. it is FINALLY what I want to do and will do. It was a long road for me to get to this, I bloom late...but I bloom!!

You’ve recently put out your first release as a producer. One word about it?

To start, I must give a correction. It is NOT my first release as a producer. SLAAG got started with me as producer and writer of the first two releases with Dawn Tallman as artist, ‘Goin Up’ and ‘Heavenly Light’. I just knew that in order to grow this into something real, I needed to put my ego away as a producer and focus on releasing music that I felt confident would get noticed and loved. So I finally put the producer hat back on to indulge my own creative spirit again.

The whole industry is facing the biggest revolution it has ever known with the digitalization. Which consequences has this had on your own situation? Which new perspectives has this brought?

Well vinyl sales suck!!, so I stopped pressing vinyl. I decided to put more resources into promotion and marketing. I will do more advertising and grass roots campaigns to get the artists out to grow their own fanbase. I believe this will increase sales by way of digital means and on-site during live PA's

Your vision of the current environment?

A glut in music, a drowning in material for a quick and many times small monetary return.

Of the future?

The artist, singer, musician who creates a fanbase and grows it through consistent content will catch the consumers ears and money.

The never asked question you’d like to give a response?

Yes, I DJ too and started out in college on the radio. Did the first all disco show that spawned an old billiard room becoming the first disco on the campus.

Thank you and most likely see ya there...

Thanks for the opportunity to talk to you and the readers/listeners out there. I'm honored for the chance. Thanks again. MFSB

More info: slaagrecords.com

Catch Slaag Records on 03/23 @ the BMC/Slaag party @ FUNKSHION LOUNGE – 1116 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach Fl. 33139

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