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Label Focus – Death Is Not The End

We meet the label responsible for last year’s cult classic pirate radio collection

What is roots music? Historically, this term has been associated with the varied strains of America’s early music styles (i.e. bluegrass, folk, Cajun). At Death Is Not The End, this definition has been expanded to a more global interpretation. Despite an initial focus on standard American forms like blues and gospel, DINTE has now released “roots” music from around the world, continually delving into the fascinating musical histories that surround us. From the jazz of post-war London to the popular music of mid-century Thailand, DINTE’s collection of diverse and fascinating releases is well worth your time.

WHATS THE NAME OF YOUR LABEL, AND WHO RUNS IT?

Death Is Not The End is the name and it’s run by me, Luke Owen.

WHEN & WHY DID THE LABEL START?

I started it in 2014 to house releases of some archival blues & gospel recordings I was passionate about – since then it’s grown to incorporate a broad definition of folk music and field recordings, alongside one or two releases from contemporary artists.

GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT YOUVE RELEASED SINCE THEN….

Sacred Harp singing, solo American Primitive-style guitar, traditional music from the North Caucasus, Greek rebetika, Cajun, Jamaican doo-wop, Japanese ryukoka, early Flamenco recordings, a line of pirate radio-based mixtapes and more…

WHAT QUALITIES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE MUSIC YOU RELEASE?

Timeless emotion, fragility, nostalgia, a lot of despair and some humour here and there.

WHAT KIND OF VISUAL IDENTITY DOES THE LABEL HAVE (ARTWORK, VIDEOS, ETC)?

I handle all of this (well, mostly) myself. I’d like to think it has a distinctive understatedness? Maybe.

WHATS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SELLING RELEASE TO DATE?  TELL US A BIT ABOUT IT AND WHY YOU THINK IT WAS SO POPULAR.

The London Pirate Radio Adverts comps were the biggest as they received lots of press and radio attention. I like to think a lot of what I release has a socio-political and historical value, and while most of it is very old recordings, these pirate radio clips captured a past that for many was only just out of reach.

NAME ONE RELEASE THAT YOU THINK DESERVED TO GET MORE ATTENTION THAN IT DID

Heavenly – Tragic Tiger’s Sad Meltdown

IF YOU COULD SIGN ANY ARTIST, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

I’m not sure I want to sign anyone really, I’m just interested in poking around and finding interesting overlooked recordings rather than artists as such. 

WHICH OTHER LABELS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?

Labels I admire are the ones that have made a really significant and long-lasting contribution to the appreciation of music that would have otherwise been ignored. Folkways, Arhoolie, Rounder, Topic etc.

WHAT CAN WE LOOK TO FROM YOUR LABEL NEXT?

Just more surprises, I hope!

Noah Sparkes

Check the Death Is Not The End catalogue here