Held every third Saturday in April is Record Store Day (taking place on Saturday 16th April this year). Physical formats are very important to us, and with RSD approaching, we wanted to properly celebrate the all mighty vinyl record. So in the lead up, we decided to catch up with a few of our favourite record labels to discuss their cherished memories with the medium, and the RSD release that catches their eye the most. Today’s label in focus is Canvas Sounds.
Written by Rhys Lyons, Artist Manager at Canvas Sounds.
G’day! My name is Rhys Lyons and I work as artist manager for Canvas Sounds, an Australian independent music label, management and production company now based in Manchester, UK. After years spent writing, performing and recording music with their own bands, my brothers Adam and Nathan Lyons founded Canvas Sounds in reaction to their own less-than-groovy experiences with shoddy PR firms, shady promoters and lawfully binding, hard-to-get-out-of contracts. Their intention with this makeshift operation was to support new and emerging musicians by encouraging them not to make the same mistakes they did. Since 2013 Canvas Sounds has managed a small roster, promoting collaboration between its signed artists and keeping all PR, media, web design, mixing and production almost entirely within the family.
In 2015, Canvas Sounds and its artists relocated to Manchester for the sunshine. As far as I can tell we are still a not-for-profit organization.
The Best Record EVER According to me:
INXS – Kick
The reason I admire Kick isn’t just due to the release of amazing banger singles like ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ or ‘New Sensation’ – it’s the fact that they paved the way for many future acts hailing from ‘Straya to break into the UK and US scenes. There’s a wild joyousness to Kick that many bands since have attempted to emulate but few have matched. What INXS did was make rock music you could dance to.
I still remember listening to Kick as a kid with my two older brothers, growing up in a very small Australian country town called Mackay. Our father would bellow the lyrics on hot 40-degree Saturdays and the songs were etched into my young mind.
Record Store Day Release:
Death Cab For Cutie – Tractor Rape Chain
I’m completely biased when it comes to Death Cab, they can do no wrong. Also, this is an intriguing song title…
For more on Canvas Sounds, head to their website here.
For more on Record Store Day, visit their website here.
