D.I.Y: By Any Means Necessary

It used to be that artists needed the record label much more than the record label needed them. "But the times they have a change-d." It is no longer a unique situation for a band to self-release an album without a view to attracting label attention.

Due to the creative interference that record companies often instigate, many bands are seeking to circumnavigate the industry entirely in releasing their albums and E.Ps, but is it really possible to do this?

Strange Glue will look at two bands who have pulled it off.

Case study #1 - Clap your Hands Say Yeah

In June 2005, "Clap your Hands Say Yeah" released their self-titled album. At last count they had sold over 200,000 copies of it, all without the aid of a record deal in the U.S. How did this come about. Guitarist and vocalist Alec Ounsworth started off with a dream. He'd had the feeling for a while that record companies had lost the plot somehow, and held on to the notion that this was something that was possible. So the band organised the recording of the album, printed a first run and started a sales push using a two-pronged strategy of concert sales and internet sales. Doubtless they impressed the local music scene with their shows, for soon kids from the area were sharing their album via file-trading websites. It was on one of these websites that music blogger Dan Beirne came across them, enormously impressed, he then posted a glowing endorsement of the band. With a buzz quickly developing around the band, indie-rock website Pitchfork started to take notice and similarly posted an enthused recommendation on their site. The domino effect continued until the celebrity world took notice, and icons such as David Bowie and David Byrne were spotted attending CYHSY gigs. This led to more press coverage until almost anyone with an interest in Indie and a modem were exposed to them.

Meanwhile, bassist Tyler Sargent was mailing more and more copies from his apartment to cope with the sheer volume of internet orders, the demand got so great that soon they couldn't cope with it anymore and decided to enlist the help of a distribution company (these look after the manufacturing and sales side of things). Despite the many major labels which have come calling, they refused any contracts and self-released their second album "Some Loud Thunder" this year.

Case study #2 - Enter Shikari

Closer to home, hailing from St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, post-hardcore/trance/electronic band Enter Shikari had seen many of their favourite bands get dropped. They were determined not to fall into the same cycle, they side-stepped the issue. Success never came easy though, despite the appearance of it being attained 'overnight' so-to-speak. The band toured relentlessly throughout the U.K. Clocking up literally hundred of shows and in November 2006 became only the second unsigned band to sell out the London Astoria.

On a second front, they were promoting the heck out of themselves on websites such as MySpace. Word soon spread around and the number of people visiting the sites and listening to tracks snowballed. Similarly to "Clap your Hands Say Yeah", "Enter Shikari" have also enlisted the services of a distribution company (Vital) to handle sales of their albums. Riding high, "Enter Shikari" have signed up for many high-profile tours such as Download festival and a support slot with Canadian punk band "Billy Talent".

Case Conclusion:

With the falling costs of recording studios - some going for as little as £10-£15 an hour - the advent of digital downloads, distribution companies such as www.cdbaby.com and www.interpunk.com plus with the use of the internet as a promotion tool it is not only feasible to self-release, it's a reality.

A word of caution though, this route takes endurance, patience, and talent. You won't have the fancy P.R. to sell your stuff, just old-fashioned creativity.