Interview by Jeb Taylor

www.spunk.com.au
www.myspace.com/spunkrecords

Spunk Records over their ten year existence have become one of the most successful independent record labels in Australia, releasing music from Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Antony & the Johnsons and wide range of others. Some of their Australian artists are hitting the road for a showcase tour this month and with it also being their tenth birthday, Jeb acought up with the label’s co-founder and owner, Aaron Curnow to talk about the label and their showcase tour.

Spunk started as a zine way back in the nineties, tell us a little bit about the transition from zine to starting a label.
At the time we were putting out the fanzine we never thought about becoming a record label or touring artists or anything. We were fans of Au Go Go and Fellaheen and thought they were both great labels. Anyway, both those labels sadly folded and we thought hey there's no local putting out records we love so why don't we have a crack. We had built up good contacts with Will Oldham, Smog, Built To Spill, Mogwai, etc and asked them if we could release there records down here. They luckily for us said yes.

The majority of releases have been international artists, in more recent times you have increased your local content however. Has this always been the plan or more just a natural evolution of the label?
I have personally been more obsessed by international music over the years so I guess that has been the reason why I have focused on overseas artists. I am certainly a fan of Australian music but I have never been a massive gig attendee and to stay on top of what is happening locally you really need to go to the Hopetoun, etc on a regular basis. However, I have been in contact with lots of Australian music lately and I've heard some great things, hence the release of the new Firekites record.

You have a catalogue that includes many of the world's finest indie artists, what are some of the personal highlights from the catalogue?
I am a real top 10 kind of a guy so 10 of my favourite records have been
- Bonnie Prince Billy "I See A Darkness"
- Smog "A River Ain't...."
- Belle & Sebastian "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"
- Holly Throsby "On Night"
- Machine Translations "Happy"
- The shins "Oh Inverted World"
- Arcade Fire "Funeral"
- Sufjan Stevens "Seven Swans"
- Joanna newsom "Ys"
- Antony & the Johnsons "I Am A Bird Now"

The label seems to have grown steadily over the years, what are some of the pivotal releases in its growth?
Around about 2002, we released records by Sleater kinney, Bright Eyes, Machine Translations, Spoon, Lambchop, etc. and they all sold a few thousand copies. It gave us the finances to pay ourselves a small wage and quit our dodgy part time jobs. 2005 was a complete fluke for me. I managed to release Antony & the Johnsons "I am A Bird Now", Arcade Fire's "Funeral" and Sufjan Steven's "Illinois" all within a six month period. They are all incredible records, that I feel so so honoured to have released. Releasing these records meant I could pay myself a better wage and have the belief that I could get a longer term career out of the music business.

You recently hosted the labels ten year birthday show with an amazing line up; tell us a bit about that show.
Wow, just thinking about it gives me goose bumps a little. The whole thing was pretty nerve racking. Trying to organise such a big lineup for the bangalow show was a big task and then having to get people to come along at the busiest time of year to a town a few hours from a capital city. The lineup was Spoon, Joanna Newsom, Andrew Bird, Jens Lekman, Jack Ladder & Holly Throsby. They all played brilliant sets and made me make a speech in front of 700 people which was SO SO scary. I put another show on in Petersham with my long time heroes Built To Spill.... I wanna do the final one at Anita's Theatre in Thirroul... that place is amazing!!!!

Also as part of your ten year celebrations you are doing a showcase tour featuring Spunk's local artists; the local show here is headlined by Holly Throsby who has just recorded a new album in the US. When can we expect that one to be released and what can people expect from Holly's new material?
These shows aren't part of the spunk 10 year celebrations but hey if that gets a few people through the door. I have been putting on all the ads that I've also got Modular DJs performing as well (kidding).. so that should help (laughs). Yep, Holly's record is going to be called "A Loud Call" and it is released the first week of July. It was recorded by Mark Nevers in Nashville last year. Mark Nevers has worked with the Silver Jews, Bonnie Prince Billy, Andrew Bird and Lambchop in the past. He makes really beautiful subtle records. That's exactly what Holly's record is for the most part, a beautiful quiet, heartfelt record with a few uptempo moments.

Firekites are a new name but have plenty of pedigree in the Australian music scene, tell us bit more about the group?
They are from Newcastle and are based around four main players. They make warm pop indie music which I guess fans of everyone from Feist to Fionn Regan and Sufjan would enjoy. I have described them as a modern day Cruel Sea in the sense that they write instrumentals that make you think of Australian landscapes and at the same time write pop songs that have a certain groove to it.

Grand Salvo rounds out the show, he released a really impressive album recently, what can we expect from his live show?
Thanks a lot. I really think he should be as famous as some of his overseas contemporaries. He's the most underrated songwriter in the country for me. His shows are based around him politely playing his old guitar and singing his fantastic songs. He has a great presence because he looks like Ned Kelly and his music is so timeless.

Anything else you wish to add
I think this show will be lots of fun... oh and I love the Illawarra. It is such a brilliant place to live. I have been surfing and holidaying here my whole life... I am glad I finally made the full time move down here last year.