DREAM A LITTLE POP Cloudberry Records
Aug 09, 2011
Records, fanzines and three-inch CDs: an interview with Cloudberry Records' Roque.
BY TIM HINELY
Just when you think you know everything there is to know about music, along comes yet another label done out of a pure love of music that shows you that you don't know jack. Miami's Cloudberry Records has been around for nearly 5 years now and released what seems like thousands of cds, records and zines (ok, so only 161). Hot on the heels of the release of their latest zine, There is Peace in the Surging Prow, label owner Roque (Rocky) took some time out of his busy day to answer some question for me.
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BLURT: Who are you? Where are you from?
My name is Roque, and I'm a pop enthusiast and collector who happens to run Cloudberry Records. I've been involved in the indiepop community for quite some time now. I'm from Lima, Peru, and I live in Miami Beach, Florida.
How and when did the label get started?
The label started on February 1st 2007 with the release of the Celestial 3" CD single. Since late December of 2006 I had been planning to start a new label. At that time I was involved with a label called Plastilina back in my home country so I had some experience already. That December I also released a tape called C-06 with many fantastic bands and it was quite a success. It's really cool to see that some of these bands household names in indiepop. I think this tape was the start of Cloudberry as I learned the dynamics of doing a release on my own and going through the whole process in a DIY way with a small budget. After some planning, after designing the whole look of the sleeves and the overall aesthetics of what I envisioned for the label, I finally put out the first 3" and the rest is history I guess.
What or who was the initial influence?
My initial influence was the 3"CD series by Marsh Marigold. They only released a handful of them, but they were all so pretty. But that was back in the day. I wondered why no one else was using this format at all. I thought it could be a successful format for indiepop singles and that you could do a small run unlike vinyl. But of course, that wasn't the only label that influenced the sound and the aesthetics, there are a couple of labels that I think inspired me to do this label, from Heaven Records to Sarah, passing by Pushbike, A Turntable Friend, and Sugarfrost.
How did you want to give the label a uniqueness from other pop labels out there?
Well, I like to think this is a very personal label. I don't aim consciously to give it a uniqueness compared to other labels to be honest, I just do what I think would look and would sound better. I do know that by some choices I made the label is very different than other labels, from the 3" CD series, to the fanzines and the 7"s. But that's it really, I don't try to give it a uniqueness, that's something that just has to happen naturally I believe.
Why the 3" cds? What is your favorite format?
Because of a couple of reasons. Sure, they are small and cute, and that goes
very well with indiepop. Also they are more special than the regular 5" CD
and not many labels were using them. I wanted to release singles and not full
lengths, so it was indeed a waste to do them on 5", so 3" was just
the perfect format. They are not that expensive and they are cheaper to post on
the mail. So, yeah, lots of virtues on the small 3". It was the perfect
format to start a DIY label.
My favourite format? the 7" vinyl of course. As soon as I could, I started
releasing records in this format. I still remember with awe the first day 500
7"s came to my home for Cloudberry 1001. It was fantastic.
How many releases do you have out? Is seems like it's in the hundreds?
To be exact 161 releases so far.
Do you seek out most bands or do most come to you via unsolicited demo?
I seek out most bands. Some have come via unsolicited demo, but the vast majority I've found myself. I don't do it much these days though, but one of my favourite things is scouting for new exciting bands!
Would you be able to pick out your favorite Cloudberry release?
That's tricky! I don't think I can. Of course I have a soft spot for the first 3", the first fanzine or the first 7", but that doesn't mean they are my favourite releases.
Tell me about the zine? Is this your first one? Where did the name come from?
Oh, all of my zines are just called Cloudberry and the catalog number. The difference between them is that each of them have been printed in one different color. The last one is the sixth one and was printed in pink. Before that I've had a blue, red, green, purple and black fanzines. I do the fanzines as a way to promote future releases, introduce up and coming Cloudberry bands, and of course to spread my thoughts about the indiepop community.
Name 5 defunct bands you wish you could release a record by?
These might be a bit obscure, but I think the sound and aesthetics of these bands would fit in so nicely: The Wilderness Child, The Sedgwicks, Evergreen, Merry-Go-Round, Nine Steps to Ugly.
Where do you see the label in 5 years/ 10 years?
Hopefully still going. I want to be able to fulfill my dream of 100 7"s by 100 different bands, after that I can close the shop. That's my only ambition release wise. I would love to do some sort of Cloudberry festival at some point too. But aside from that I don't plan becoming the next Creation Records or something.
Final thoughts? Closing comments? Words of wisdom?
Thanks for the interview Tim. Well, more like words of self-promotion. I just came back from the UK following Very Truly Yours on their UK tour which ended at a fabulous Indietracks gig and all I can say is that they were just wonderful. To catch a glimpse of their great pop, a mix of the Fat Tulips and Heavenly, check the latest Cloudberry 7"! I promise you won't be disappointed!
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