Indipop Records
Indipop Records is a British recording label. Formed by Steve Coe in 1981 as an outlet for Monsoon's first recording track EP. Their lead singer and spokesperson was Sheila Chandra.
The EP was reviewed well in the rock press (New MusicAL Express, Melody Maker etc), played on alternative rock radio (eg BBC’s John Peel), and — unusually — picked up by a few of the UK’s Asian press and radio (catering to the UK’s two million south Asian population).
Phonogram Records decided to take a risk on Monsoon, and re-recorded a track from their EP, "Ever So Lonely". It went on to reach #12 on the UK charts. Chandra and Coe spent most of the rest of 1982 producing and promoting Monsoon's three hit singles (only ever available on export for their north American fans). The Indipop Records label was subsequently retired.
It was only after Monsoon disbanded at the end of 1982 (and Chandra went back to college to finish her studies) that Steve re-activated the Indipop Records label to release a 12" single for the Ganges Orchestra called "The Dream". The first 2,000 copies had individually hand-painted sleeves, and each contained an incense stick.
Maintaining Indipop Records’ cottage-style industry approach, but following up on the groundswell of interest Monsoon had generated for Indian-influenced pop music, Indipop Records put together two compilASIAN albums to represent other groups and artists who were inspired to experiment with this fusion of styles.
The second of these — the Indipop Music and dance compilASIAN — (released late 1983) contained two tracks from Sheila Chandra.
Chandra had finished her studies and decided she wanted to develop and deepen the musical vein Monsoon had opened up. But she wasn’t ready for the dinosaur-decision-making, 50 page contract, singles-led major label approach again.
Chandra and Coe were itching to go back to their musical playroom with all those new styles and new ideas to experiment with.
Unlike 1981, Chandra’s profile had increased, and Indipop Records had more experience of being a label, Indipop Records realized that if they owned their own studio as well as their own recordings, they could spend the maximum amount of time and energy experimenting musically on the albums and the minimum of time and money in business administration.
Chanrda signed to Indipop Records for four albums, which were to be recorded and released throughout 1984 and 1985. No singles were released.
Chandra and Coe, with the assistance of guitarist Martin Smith (and other musicians), threw themselves into the task ahead.
Unlimited studio time, a predefined musical direction to develop, an eager world-wide record-buying public, very few business constraints of marketing considerations (Chandra has never hired a manager), and no grueling singles promotion or tours. The pressing of each album was limited to 5,000 (Chandra personally signed each copy of "Out On My Own!" — her first Indipop Records album).
The personal touch and independent cottage industry approach was used whenever possible on Chandra’s four Indipop Records albums. For instance, Coes’s brother and brother-in-law did the artwork, Steve’s sister answered the phone, Martin Smith was studio engineer and photographer etc. Chandra would assist in mail-out sessions for promo copies with each album.
It was a hectic pace and Chandra in particular was learning fast about all aspects of the business. At Indipop Records she had complete control over every aspect of her creativity and the business decisions surrounding it. (All this was fertile ground for Chandra, which she was able to draw on when she ‘outgrew’ Indipop Records in 1991 and started her own production and publishing companies, and negotiated her own contracts with Real World Records).
During this time Indipop Records took on one license — MNW — an independent/co-operatively run label in Scandinavia. They had considerable success with Chandra’s albums throughout the 80s.
"Quiet!" was Chandra’s second solo album for Indipop Records. Released also in 1984, "Quiet!" has no lyrics, no drumbeats, and featured Chandra’s layered and interwoven vocals and cyclic riffs. The album marked Chandra’s writing debut.
"The Struggle" and "Nada Brahma" were released in 1985. By the end of that year, Chandra was exhausted and decided to take a sabbatical (which was to last four years). Steve once again mothballed the label, sold the studio set-up and left MNW to keep pressing up the catalog.
Chandra’s fifth (and last) album for Indipop Records, "Roots and Wings", was released in 1989 via MNW.
Indipop Records released two more compilASIAN albums via MNW during this time, but Chandra was already looking to new horizons for her next project — beyond Indipop Record’s defiantly small-scale approach.
Chandra's Real World Records trilogy of solo voice and drone albums (and accompanying live work) dominated her 1990's output. Both Chandra (and Coe) threw themselves into this new musical direction and once again Indipop Records was put on the shelf.
See also
- Monsoon (band)
- Sheila Chandra
References
- Indipop Records on SheilaChandra.com