Hello
Tom and Fabio! How are you guys? You're probably busy preparing
packages for shipping, am I right?)
Hello
Alex, Thank you for your interest in POWER IT UP. This is where the
preparations for the festival season begin. We are also busy
finishing our upcoming releases.
I'm
very interested in the story of Power it Up, please tell us how it
all started ...
It
all started 25 years ago when I founded POWER IT UP with my then
partner. We had previously dealt with second hand stuff and therefore
we had met Kim from Nailed Down, which then became our first release.
This year we have our 25th anniversary. For this occasion, we
organize a small concert, where we can hopefully greet many people
who have accompanied us in the 25 years.
Do
you remember the very first release on the label? And are you
satisfied with the way it developed, or do you regret something /
would you have done something else looking back on it?
The
first release was as in question 2 already answered NAILED DOWN from
Australia. Yes, a lot has developed, we now have over 250 releases
out there. We have always made releases according to our own taste in
music. We have always tried to know the bands personally, we have
almost always succeeded. That's why we did a lot right.
It
was impossible not to notice that your label recently started
republishing many of the rare recordings of old punk bands. Why did
you decide to do that?) Can you please tell us something more about
this punk series?
First
of all, it's because I grew up with this punk music, so I also knew
many bands from the past personally. It also makes things much easier
one has a common background. Besides, I also like the music, it
reminds me of my youth.
I've
heard that Apathic View Productions has given you all of its
inventory. Can you give us more information on this topic guys?
Norman
the boss of Apathic View wanted to close his label for personal
reasons, he asks me if I want to take over the stuff. I wanted to
help Him and that's why we agreed. All good!
Okay, now continue the punk questions ... Was it hard to find all
those old records? I know some of the tapes / vinyls were gone for a
very long time ... but you managed to find most of the noise ... did
it come from a private collection or anywhere else?
Yes,
I also have some records in my collection, I could serve myself, I
also have some contacts in the world where I can ask if there are
friends who help me there. In addition, I always have old band
members which I can then ask for info / tapes / posters, etc.
I
know that many labels receive a lot of mail while asking to release
the record to another unknown band. Tell me, what are your criteria
for choosing a new band? Is it important that the band is already
famous, tours, gigs and all the shit? Please in more detail.
Yes,
in the meantime we get a lot of mails with band applications, so
unfortunately we do not have the right post anymore. But I also have
to say that most of the releases we do know people in person. That's
very important to me too. It has to meet my taste and run on a good
base and it does not matter if it's a "big" or a small
band. It has to fit. The band has to play somewhere, but that's not
always possible (an old band that stopped playing 20 years ago will
not be back together again) so it's not always everything to plan
ahead.
I
wonder how many a decent label like P.I.U. can it get out every year?
Do you have something like the standard number?
No,
absolutely not, that has always happened Maybe a band is on tour,
because then you have to meet deadlines, but often this is then as
factories (press shops, printing) work.
And the style of music - which genres do you prefer to work with?
This
is different, but you can see how much of our publications.
What about the financial part? Does the label give you enough money
to live on, or does it require you to have another, "normal"
job along the way?
No
with the label I can’t finance my family with two children. I still
have a regular job, I work for years in a facility for disabled
people. My family supports me with the label / mailorder work as well
as some friends. Alone, all this would not be possible.
Of
course Napalm Death is no grindcore anymore, but how did you manage
to get her into your herd? And is the release done now?
The
Napalm Death release we had contact to their record company, I then
had contact with the band regarding the cover. Yes, the Double
Picture 10 "is now available since April.
One
of my favorite questions. Please give us your future plans. What new
things can we expect from you? Yes, I can write you the already
established publications.
Butcher
ABC - North of Hell LP (available at the Obscene Festival)
EMILS
- Fight together For LP + bonus EP (available at our anniversary
party)
INFERNO
- Hibakusha LP (available at our anniversary party)
AGATHOCLES
- Thanks For Your Hostility 2x LP
DEPRESSION
- Unbelief LP
By
the way, as a German you like to drink beer. What is your favorite
brand? Did you ever think about making your own label beer? (For
example, there are already Iron Maiden, AC DC and others)?)
Since
I drink no beer at all, I did not even think about a label brand.
Well,
that's all for now, so thanks for the opportunity to do this
interview! I hope to meet you at this year's Obscene Extreme
Festival. 😉
Yes
Alex thank you also for the questions, it took longer but I hope it
is OK for you. I hope you will come over at our stand at Obscene, I
would be glad if we get to know each other personally.
Contacts: Power it Up fb Power It Up off site
