SpinART Records, the indie rock label behind
bands such as Apollo Sunshine and You Am I just pitched their
tent in DUMBO. The 13-year-old label, with a roster of more than
40 artists, opened its doors at 20 Jay St. in August.
SpinART is the latest record label to migrate to DUMBO, following
in the footsteps of Centaur Entertainment and Emerge Records.
The record company now takes up 3,000 square feet on the seventh
floor of the building most know as the Brooklyn outpost of ABC
Carpet and Home.
SpinART Records began in 1991 as a two-man operation headed by
high school buddies Jeff Price and Joel Morowitz. Morowitz was
interning at SPK Records (home of 1980s flash-in-the-pans Vanilla
Ice and Wilson Philips) and approached Price about starting their
own label.
They released their first CD the following year: a compilation
called "One Last Kiss." The CD included 19 songs by
groups including Spent, Velocity Girl and the Lilys, and set
the tone for future releases by the label. The company grew exponentially
allowing Morowitz to quit his internship while the two launched
the label from a Murray Hill apartment.
Since then, SpinART has had more than 140 releases. Their artists
range from alternative bands like MC Honky, Echo and the Bunnymen,
ex-Pixies front man Frank Black and Brooklyn-based Clem Snide
(maybe best known for last season’s theme song to the NBC show,
"Ed") to old-school favorites like Kool and the Gang.
SpinART also produces music for the best-selling Australian rock
trio You Am I, who just released their latest record, "Deliverance."
Although the band is not as popular in the States, You Am I has
toured with the Rolling Stones, Oasis and the Strokes, and played
at festivals like Lollapalooza. They are the first Australian
group to have three consecutive albums debut at No. 1 on their
national charts, according to Price.
SpinART was also a groundbreaking record company in the controversial
area of Internet music, explained Price. It was the first label
to offer its entire catalog online via paid MP3 downloads in
the late 1990s.
Thanks to all of their creative marketing, 2002 was SpinART’s
most successful year to date. But despite their accomplishments,
the SpinART crew remains a small, close-knit group with only
five full-time employees who handle all the promotions and advertising.
Price and his young staff share one giant office and sit amid
cartons of CDs and demo tapes. They may seem laid-back, sporting
jeans and T-shirts, but they maintain a serious dedication to
the musicians they represent. They aim to remain artist-friendly,
thereby attracting tons of new bands.
"After 13 years, we get approached a lot," said Price,
36. "We get between 30 and 70 demos a week, and we make
sure we listen to every one."
Creative companies like SpinART are a recent addition to 20 Jay
St., and are accepted by some longtime tenants for the diversity
they bring to a once largely manufacturing area. Their neighbors
are an eclectic group, from guitar manufacturers and printers,
to furniture designers and local artists.
"We’re thrilled to have new faces in the building,"
said Timothy Kennon, president of McViggor & Higginbotham
Inc., a direct mail printing company in the building for 10 years.
"It’s nice to see something other than another printer here.
They bring color to the area."
Drawing new businesses to DUMBO was part of the plan when Two
Trees Management purchased 20 Jay St. back in December 2000.
The 400,000-square-foot space is being renovated floor by floor,
and construction is underway for a new passenger elevator and
a 90-car garage. The building is now completely rented since
SpinART signed the last available lease.
"We hope DUMBO continues to develop as an area for craft
and creative tenants and as a community," said Chris Havens,
director of leasing for Two Trees.
SpinART spent the past few years jumping from cramped spaces
in Manhattan and Staten Island, but is now happy to call their
spacious DUMBO loft home.
"There’s a great community feeling here," said Price.
"It’s nice to know there is a lot being done to bring artists
to this area. We can walk out the door to great restaurants and
bars, and we finally have enough space to accommodate our growing
business."
For more information about SpinART Records,
or any of their artists, visit www.spinartrecords.com.
