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Each month, we present an independent label that we've decided to highlight. This month, we invite you to discover the Nantes-based label (and record store) Frozen Records!
Hello Frozen Records! Can you tell us where the name of the label comes from and what motivated you to create one?
Frozen Records is first and foremost the name of the record shop in Nantes, set up by Eddy in 2019 and later joined by Paul. It seemed natural to us to keep the name for the label. It's a nod to a photography collective that Eddy had in the past, called Frozen Cactus, and a tribute to the song "Frozen" by Dissection, one of Eddy's favourite bands...
Always passionate about music and vinyl records for a long time, we wanted to help talented artists to release their music on physical formats and distribute it, which is not necessarily easy when you're an independent band with limited resources and no infrastructure or point of sale behind you.
What's your background in music?
Eddy is passionate, even voracious, but a poor musician.
Paul is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist and has played (and still plays) in many bands. He has worked in many concert organisations and has been involved in the scene since his teenage years.
© DR
Among all the experiences you've had with the label, which one has marked you the most?
Packaging and shipping 3500 copies of ALT 236's vinyl (our first release) in the middle of August, at 40°C, half-naked in the back of the shop, while finishing the renovation of the new store. It was quite a workout!
Let's talk about artists. What style(s) of music can we find in your releases?
We don't have a preferred style, as long as it falls within the realm of extreme music. We mainly operate based on artistic and personal connections. When a project touches us and we feel it's promising, we go for it! So far, we've released relatively little Metal, but we've put out Synthwave, Dark Folk, Coldwave, Dungeon Synth, as well as Black Metal and Black'n'Roll, because we need a bit of a fight after all!
What are the prerequisites for joining Frozen Records?
Above all, having a real artistic proposition, passion and very importantly, being a decent human being, neither a creep nor a fascist at Frozen!
Do you have an idea of the proportion of your physical sales compared to digital distribution?
We have a bit of a special formula, we want the bands to remain as independent as possible, so we don't touch the digital side, we just manage the physical, I couldn't tell you.
Speaking of physical sales, which format(s) (CDs, vinyl, cassettes) do you offer most often?
We're especially passionate about vinyl records and that's what sells best today, so mainly vinyl, we're at 10 vinyl releases versus 5 CD releases at the moment.
And what about merchandising in general? Is there any particular item you especially appreciate?
We're getting into merch right now, as soon as we finish this interview we're going to set up a merch rack for the shop. We're very much into T-shirts, long sleeves and pins!
To conclude this interview, tell us about the future projects of Frozen Records!
We have quite a few label releases booked until the end of 2023, we're also organising more and more concerts in Nantes, in addition to our festival in early July, for which we're finalising the line-up. As we mentioned in the previous question, we're also venturing into merch!
Thank you, kisses!
