Welcome to the 3rd instalment of the label focus feature here on the Descrier.
This week we are very happy to be talking to Conan Roberts of East London label Italian Beach Babes.
Hello Mr. Conan Roberts! Tell us a bit about Italian Beach Babes, how did you get going and what was your first release?
First ever release was a cassette, it was with Graffiti Island, Male Bonding and PENS. It came about as in London at the time there wasn’t really any small labels that we all knew and the three bands were all fresh and good friends and it seemed a cool thing to do. I managed to blag about 100 free cassettes and sat at home dubbing them and printing covers.
How would you describe the label? Any particular musical identity you think runs through the artists?
Musically the records can be quite diverse from say Hounds of Hate 12″ to something like Boneyards or Sealings. Like all labels I just put out music I like and having a pretty diverse taste it ends up being pretty eclectic. I see the label and making of records as a kind of craft too. I sit at home and dub cassettes, print sleeves, cut and fold them. I like the physicality of doing a lot of that myself rather than having it all done in a factory.
I didn’t realise that Graffiti Island one was your first release. I’m not a big tape guy but I bloody love that band. Think I might have at least four 7″s or split 7″s of them around. Come back Graffiti Island!
Okay back to stuff. I recently revisited that Hounds of Hate 12″ and have been getting it back into DJ sets. I’ve always said their I Like Triangles 12″ is one of my favorite records. Any plans to do more records with them? Are they even still going?
I’d love them to do more stuff but I feel those guys have moved on now. Stan (HoH) recently sent me about 20mins of new music he’d made which was amazing so I’m sure that will surface soon under a new moniker.
What is it that appeals to you about tapes? I have never really managed to get into them (anew). Is it a simple financial thing that they are very cheap to produce?
They are a great way for really new bands to get something physical into people’s hands. I never do big runs just 50-100 but it always seems that just the act of a band releasing a cassette really helps them get more attention, more shows and people hearing their music.
Plus yeah they are super cheap to produce – a lot of man hours goes into dubbing and cutting sleeves at home though.
I guess you have a point there. Perhaps Tapes are nicer than CDRs.
You recently did a release with Vision Fortune right or is that coming up soon? I BLOODY LOVE that band! Tried to get them onto my label to no avail! Where did you first catch them?
I don’t recall first time I heard them but I asked them to play with Mazes a year or so back and they were totally amazing. One of the best live bands in London right now. I’ll be releasing a split EP with Meddicine and them very soon.
What have you got coming up on IBB? Anything you would like to recommend or give a plug?
So yeah the Vision Fortune / Meddicine EP, then a 12″ EP from Sealings who I did a cassette for a while back now. It’s their first vinyl release and sounds great. Then Novella have 2 new tracks which are going on a 7″ also before the end of the year.
Thanks very much!
Anthony Chalmers is a freelance music booker & runs independent record label Robot Elephant Records