Xemu Records is an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.

History

Xemu Records is an independent record label, founded in 1992 in New York City by writer, filmmaker, musician, music producer and artist

Cevin Soling Cevin Soling is an American writer, filmmaker, philosopher, musician, music producer, and artist. Soling writes articles and books in addition to producing documentaries, animations, short films, and feature films that engage in social critique ...

as a vehicle for his music and music production endeavors. Originally conceived as a " record label" nod to underground cult movements of the 60's and 70's the label has since grown to be a home to burgeoning young bands in the

psychedelic music Psychedelic music (sometimes called psychedelia) is a wide range of popular music styles and genres influenced by 1960s psychedelia, a subculture of people who used psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, and cannabis to ...

and independent music scenes. Xemu Records uses the trademarked motto " We're Happier Than You Are" as well as the name "Xemu" to play on the myth of "Xemu"/" Xenu". During the 1990s Xemu Records signed a number of alternative rock acts with regional success but it was in 2002 with the compilation album

When Pigs Fly (Cevin Soling album) ''When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You'd Hear'' is a compilation album devised and produced by musician Cevin Soling in 2002. The album is a collection of popular songs recorded by artists considered unlikely to cover them. Overview After ...

, a collection of popular songs recorded by artists unlikely to record them, that the label gained international attention. Soling after his earlier success convincing

Kevin DuBrow Kevin Mark DuBrow (October 29, 1955 – November 19, 2007) was an American singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Quiet Riot from 1975 until 1987, and again from 1993 until his death in 2007. Early life, photography ...

of Quiet Riot to record a mellow version of the song "Metal Health" with him, he got the idea for the project and began recruiting musicians to participate. Some of the songs on the album include a version of "Unforgettable" by

Ani DiFranco Angela Maria "Ani" DiFranco (; born September 23, 1970) is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums. DiFranco's music has been classified as folk rock and alternative rock, although it has additional influe ...

and Jackie Chan, which he co-produced with DiFranco, Blondie's "Call Me" by Alex Chilton and his band

The Box Tops The Box Tops is an American rock band formed in Memphis in 1967. They are best known for the hits " The Letter", "Cry Like a Baby", "Choo Choo Train," and " Soul Deep" and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period. They perform ...

, and a cover of "Shock The Monkey" by Don Ho which Soling also produced. Later in 2002 after a chance meeting with bassist

Steve Kille Steve Kille is an English software engineer. He has worked on Internet technologies since 1980, and was one of the principal engineers behind the ISO Development Environment (ISODE) open-source implementation of the OSI protocol stack. He was ...

, of

Dead Meadow Dead Meadow is an American psychedelic rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1998 and currently composed of vocalist and guitarist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille, and drummer Mark Laughlin. The band have released seven studio albums, two liv ...

, while on tour with The Brian Jonestown Massacre the two decided to join forces and redirect the label to reissue Dead Meadow's back catalog. After a few years of hiatus the first Dead Meadow reissue was released in 2006 "

" followed by ''Howls from the Hills'' 2007, "Three Kings" live film and double album 2010 and "Peel Session" in 2012. After the success of the Dead Meadow line of unreleased albums and reissues the label has since focused on releasing a schedule of full-time artists in the psych-alternative music scene. Xemu is also releasing a series of "children's books for grown-ups" called the Rumpleville Chronicles.

Roster

* The Carrions *

* DTCV * La Cerca * The Left Outsides *

The Love Kills Theory The Love Kills Theory is an alternative rock band based in New York City. They were formed in 2006 by Cevin Soling, and in January 2007 they released their debut album '' Happy Suicide, Jim!'', a thirteen track CD with philosophical and anti-consu ...

The Morning After Girls The Morning After Girls are an Australian neo-psychedelia band. The group was originally formed in Melbourne, Victoria around 2003 by founding members Sacha Lucashenko (vocals and guitar) and Martin B. Sleeman (vocals and guitar), who relocated ...

Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...

* Snowy Dunes *

Spindrift (band) SPINDRIFT is an American psychedelic rock band, created by singer-songwriter-composer-producer-actor Kirpatrick Thomas. Founded in 1992, the band originated in Newark, Delaware along with such other local bands of the period including Jake an ...

* Strangers Family Band *

Matthew J. Tow Matthew J. Tow is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Perhaps best known as the singer and guitarist of 1990s Sydney indie band Drop City, Tow currently fronts international neo-psychedelic rockers the Lovetones. Spla ...

Past

* Baby Alive * Mikki James *

The Neanderthal Spongecake Cevin Soling is an American writer, filmmaker, philosopher, musician, music producer, and artist. Soling writes articles and books in addition to producing documentaries, animations, short films, and feature films that engage in social critique ...

* Poets and Slaves *

Scary Chicken Scary Chicken is a Buffalo, New York–based band that was active 1989–2002. Formation Formed at the University at Buffalo, the band recorded and released 4 CDs and 2 cassettes, and has had songs placed in multiple Motion Picture Soundtracks a ...

* The Sandra Wright Band * The Smile Zone

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control Indie rock record labels American independent record labels 1992 establishments in New York City Companies based in New York City Companies based in Los Angeles Record labels established in 1992

History

Roster

Past

See also

References

External links