Grönpeppar Records is a new-old record label and
there is a lot of fun happening on that label
now and in the future. Martin has answered a
bunch of questions like this at the end of
August 2021.
You've been in the punk world for a while. Are
you in any band right now?
-Yes, in Röd Revolver. With the best bandmates
in the world. We've been forced into a long
hiatus because of shit, but we're going to
restart in October. It's going to be great fun.
I've been in the punk movement since the '90s
and Grönpeppar is a continuation of GP -sås that
I had then.
Tell me a little about the other "members" of
the record label?
-It is Carl Gibson from Gothenburg and south
sweden Danne Paulsson who got into the heat
sometime around the beginning of 2021. Gibson
takes care of the record store and handles all
packing and sending - and is also responsible
for our Bandcamp page. Danne is the one who runs
the webshop and who has full control of all
numbers and finances - and manages contact with
record presses/printers. Among other things.
Both of them do a huge job and it allows me to
concentrate a lot on the music and the releases.
You just said you have send a vinyl for pressing...
You probably won't tell us who they are, but can
we have a small chance of guessing who they are?
Is it a band that debuts or have they done
something before?
- I can say yes to both A and B. They're two
bands with very young members. It's going to be
great. I can give you some other news. Within a
month, we'll send you a form of collection. It
will be called Twelve Inch Punk(Tolv Tum Punk)
and it is actually four EPs with four different
bands. All with their own covers. And at a much
cheaper purchase price than what four vinyl EP's
cost. This was my original idea when we decided
to release vinyl so it feels great to finally
launch it.
What are your demands for a band to be on
Grönpeppar Records?
- No requirements except that they should not be
foil hats and right-hand idiots. Then there's a
very strong inclination for female fronted punk
bands and/or young punk bands among what we
release, but that's just because I think they're
the ones doing the best and most interesting
punk music. But no rule without exception
because we're actually releasing a old-fashioned
vinyl with
old guys this fall, ha ha.
You will release vinyl , cassette and CD, which
format do you like yourself best?
- Personally, I prefer digipack CD because it is
easy to handle and always has good quality. And
just like with cassette, you can print a small
inexpensive edition which also gives small and
new bands an opportunity. And then it's cheap.
Vinyl is expensive to make and buy - but has a
very special and unique feel and fits bands that
can make/sell larger editions. Cassette is more
of a fun cult thing. I like all three, in their
own way. Things by person.
Do you have a dream band to get your label?
-Oh, absolutely. Hårdgnissel and N'a Hospitalet
I had personally received without blinking. But
actually, two other similar "dream bands" we're
going to release vinyl with next year so I'm
skipping mentioning them by name now. There are
so many great Swedish punk bands!
In what editions do you release your works?
- It's a little different depending on the
format and which band. We learn all the time.
Elvira Bira's CD, for example, sold out already
during the pre-sale, so we took too little. Yes,
all our CDs are more or less sold out, so we
probably need to make some larger CD editions.
What drives you to do a record label these days?
-It's an eternal love of Swedish punk that
drives us, nothing else.
Are you involved in Danne's Punk rock Store or
is it just his thing?
- It's just Danne's thing, I'm not involved at
all there. But it is the surplus from there that
finances Grönpeppars editions. And Danne also
has the "record label" Sockiplast where he gets
to decide on the music and avoids me....
How many percent of what you release do you have
to sell for a release to add up?
- The whole edition, basically. It is actually
Danne who should answer here because he manages
the economy, but we keep prices down all we can
and make no profit. The goal is for every
release to go around for us and for the band to
make some money.
When a band records something to be released,
how do they record themselves and you just do
the pressing of the physical or do you pay for
recording as well?
- No, because we don't make a profit, so there's
no way to pay studio time for the bands. The
idea is that the bands should go plus on the
record sales and thus get paid for some expenses
afterwards, so to speak. Then we have a pretty
close collaboration with Siken i Giftig Avfall
who also runs a studio where the bands can
record for free if he have time. He's doing a
fantastic job for the punk scene!
Ursäkta röran-records. Is there anything you
will continue with?
Anything
new going on there?
-Oh, absolutely! That series is the heart of
this. New bands that get traction and the chance
to be discovered by more people. I'm busy with
Vol 3. 12 of 13 bands are nailed down and
scheduled for release in November. Also has a
bunch of bands ready for vol 4 so it will
definitely continue.
You've got off to a really good start with
releasing a lot in a fairly short time, do you
have time to work with something else?
- Ha ha, yes I have a normal job (professional
driver) but I am lucky enough to be able to
listen to a lot of music at work. It makes it
easier. And then I have to point out that it is
only thanks to Carl and Danne getting into the
gang that it is possible to keep this pace. I
would never have done that on my own, either
financially or in time. Before they came along,
I had only published Röd Revolver and Ursäkta
röran Vol I. And the same with Mikael Ström who
relieves and helps me extremely much by
realizing my graphic ideas. So it's not a
one-man company in any way.
How else do you think punk lives on in Sweden?
Any favorite bands right now besides the ones
you've released?
-It's a small scene, but there's never a
shortage of incredibly good Swedish punk bands.
Right here and now, Hårdgnissel and N:a
Hospitalet as I mentioned earlier are two big
favorites. Then bands like Kardborrebandet,
Bergerlig Begravning, Jönzzonligan, Kasshuvve,
Ärkepucko, City Saints.. It can be continued for
a long time.
Which band do you think will be the next "big"
punk band in Sweden, I mean a band that is not
known now but comes strong?
-You never know that, and least of all I prefer
warped and charming punk to skilled punk. But
one band that hasn't released anything physical
yet but deserves more attention is
SmåJävlaFötter from Gothenburg. They really have
everything that it takes purely musically and
will be exciting to follow. I hope Grönpppar can
make their physical debut!
You once made a fanzine, nothing you're thinking
about these days, or is it enough to release
music?
- Yes, I really love paper fanzines. But it
takes a lot of time and commitment. I've guest
written in many issues of Flyktoda, I'm going to
have to settle there right now. But it would be
great to be part of a fanzine collective, I
wouldn't back down on that.
Sending out reviewcopys is something that is
quite close to your heart because you yourself
have written about music and you know how happy
as a fanzine maker gets
very
happy every time something comes in the mailbox?
- Well, I remember that feeling very clearly.
But the feeling is the same nowadays when new
Swedish punk comes into the box. But without the
element of surprise. But of course I want to
support the few fanzines that actually exist.
What's the weirdest review you've received so
far?
- Strange I don't know, but it was a German
fanzine where the writer wrote that he came to
think of bratwurst and beer while listening to
Wrong Band's EP. It was a bit of fun anyway.
How do you see on Spotify, Bandcamp etc....Spotify
you´re not there, what is it about?
- Just positive really, correctly used. I'm
using both to look for new music. I do that all
the time, like. And if something's great, I
usually buy the record, if I can afford it. I
personally don't feel that it is a "record label
performance" to release music on Spotify, the
bands can easily do that themselves. And thus
keep 100% of the revenue themselves. I don't
want us to grab that share. That's what
for-profit record labels live on, isn't it,
Spotify revenue? Bandcamp feels more punk and
diy than Spotify and there we post everything we
release on our account. Simply so that people
can listen to the test and for those who prefer
digitally to get theirs. I really like Bandcamp.
How many releases do you intend to release per
year or is it nothing definite?
-Nothing definite. But we discussed at some
point that 8-9 editions a year are actually
quite right. I want to be able to go in 100% on
each edition and time is limited after all. So
better to be a little picky than just chop
everything.
How do you sell your records, is it just online
or are you trying to be out at concerts as well
(I know there haven't been that many concerts
lately), are there many who distribute your
records?
- The bands sell themselves at their concerts
and get all the revenue from there. We only sell
through our webshop. There are only a few punk
distros, like Flyktsoda, that sell our editions.
We are extremely grateful to them, because every
sold record really counts. Vinyl is what more
people want to help selling, it's good enough
for nice people, ha ha.
Last question Greenpepper sauce something you
like or tired of?
-He he - no I haven't tasted it since my teens,
but as I remember it was pretty good. We'll just
have to eat it when Danne, Carl and I meet
sometime. Kind of funny that a joke a friend
made when I was 13 seems to come with me all my
life, by the way. As it may be. |