Projekt Records
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- This is the article for the record label. You might be looking for Pro-jekt, ProjeKct, Project Pitchfork, or Projekt Revolution
| Projekt Records | |
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| Founded | 1983 |
| Genre | gothic rock, ethereal, darkwave, ambient and dark cabaret |
| Country of origin | US |
| Official website | Official website |
Projekt is a Brooklyn, New York based independent record label specializing in gothic rock, ethereal, darkwave, ambient, shoegazer, dream-pop and dark cabaret created by Sam Rosenthal in 1983. Projekt bands are more likely to rely on keyboards and acoustic guitars than most other bands in the gothic genre, and their influences range from art and literature to ancient and world music.
Prominent Projekt artists include Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Android Lust, Steve Roach, Unto Ashes, Mira and Voltaire.
Based over the years in South Florida, Los Angeles and Chicago, Projekt is now located in Brooklyn. Projekt has 203 releases out with an additional 25 on the Projekt: Archive side-label. Sam Rosenthal runs Projekt as an independent record label for the goth, ethereal, shoegazer, dream-pop and ambient scene.
The label has had many employees over the years, who assisted Sam with his vision. Most noticeably, Shea Hovey is the current assistant who handles the press contacts as well as the mail-order. She has been with the label since 2000, and is often the "face" of Projekt at the festivals, while Sam runs around putting out fires. Other employees of note were Charles Clutter, Padraic Ogle Thanatos / Precipice Records and Sam's ex-wife Lisa Feuer. Briefly, Sam Fogarino of Interpol worked at Projekt, though Sam has often commented, "I never really knew what he did." Contanstine Maroulis, of American Idol fame, worked one afternoon, preparing catalogs. Rosenthal runs an email list with weekly updates and personal commentary, often about conservatives and the record industry[citation needed].
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[edit] Label support of MP3
Sam Rosenthal has stood apart from mainstream (and even many alternative music labels) in strong support of MP3 and digital downloads. While Rosenthal has ensured that numerous MP3s of his artists are available for legitimate download, he has also gone so far as to praise MP3 even when not downloaded legitimately.[1] Editorials on the Projekt website (dating back to January 2001) counter the assumption that all labels oppose all unofficial MP3 downloads. While Rosenthal does not condone downloading entire albums without paying, his view is that those exposed to music, by whatever route, will ultimately purchase albums and support the artists they enjoy.[2]
[edit] Projektfest
Projekt Records has also presented Projektfest, a semi-annual festival of gothic and ethereal music, featuring primarily (but not exclusively) Projekt artists. In 1996, Projektfest ran for two days in Chicago. In 1997, Chicago was again host to two days of Projektfest and a few weeks later another day of performances were hosted in Mexico City. In 1998, Projektfest was a series of four one-day events in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City. The most recent Projektfest, in 2002, was held over three days in Philadelphia, at the Trocadero and other sites. Projekt hosted Projektfest '07 as part of the Blacksun Festival in New Haven, Connecticut, in August.[3]
[edit] Artists
[edit] Current Roster
- Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows
- Alio Die
- All My Faith Lost...
- Android Lust
- Arcana
- As Lonely As Dave Bowman
- Audra
- Autumn's Grey Solace
- Black Tape for a Blue Girl
- Dark Sanctuary
- Fear Falls Burning
- Khvarena
- Lovesliescrushing
- Mira
- Mirabilis
- Mortiis
- Steve Roach
- Soulwhirlingsomewhere
- Tearwave
- Trance to the Sun
- Unto Ashes
- Vidna Obmana
[edit] Past Roster
- Amber Route
- Arcanta
- Area
- The Arms of Someone New
- Attrition
- Controlled Bleeding
- Eden
- Faith & Disease
- Forrest Fang
- Jeff Greinke
- Human Drama
- Judgment of Paris
- Love Spirals Downwards
- Lovespirals
- lowsunday
- Lycia
- Mors Syphilitica
- O Yuki Conjugate
- Ordo Equitum Solis
- Shinjuku Thief
- Slap
- The Sleep of Reason
- Thanatos
- This Ascension
- Peter Ulrich
- Tara Vanflower
- Voltaire
[edit] References
- ^ San Francisco Chronicle article quoting Rosenthal's opinion on MP3.
- ^ Projekt Records site Sam's views on MP3.com + Napster
- ^ Projectfest web site
