Don Giovanni 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 and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

originally specializing in

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

from the New Brunswick, New Jersey music scene but eventually working with a variety of artists from different genres. Its also operated out of

Lansing, Michigan Lansing () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, Michigan, Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County, Michigan, Eaton County and nort ...

History

Don Giovanni Records was founded by Joe Steinhardt and Zach Gajewski while they were living in Boston in 2003. Steinhardt and Gajewski started the label while playing in bands and attending college at

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

, where the two had met. After graduation they moved to

New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...

, where Steinhardt was from, in order to make the label a full-time operation. The label is best known for developing artists like

Screaming Females Screaming Females were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey comprising Marissa Paternoster on vocals and guitar, Jarrett Dougherty on drums, and Mike Abbate on bass. They released their debut album ''Baby Teeth (Screaming Females a ...

, Mitski,

Waxahatchee Waxahatchee is an American indie music project, formed in 2010 by American singer-songwriter Kathryn Crutchfield (born January 4, 1989), known professionally as Katie Crutchfield, following the breakup of her previous band P.S. Eliot. The ban ...

, Laura Stevenson, Moor Mother, and Irreversible Entanglements, as well as fostering a geographically diverse community of artists, including Mal Blum, Native American Music Award “Best Artist” winner Keith Secola, Holy Modal Rounders founder, Peter Stampfel, Lavender Country,

Swamp Dogg Jerry Williams Jr. (born July 12, 1942), generally credited under the pseudonym Swamp Dogg after 1970, is an American Southern soul, country soul and R&B singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. Williams has been described as "one of the ...

, Alice Bag, and comedian Chris Gethard. In 2016, Steinhardt launched the New Alternative Music Festival. The label has been vocally critical of Record Store Day and streaming music as well as other social issues within the music industry. In 2020 the label relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Roster

Artists such as

, Moor Mother, Mitski, Laura Stevenson,

, Bad Bad Hats, Sammus, Downtown Boys, The Ergs!,

Priests A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, ...

Tenement A tenement is a type of building shared by multiple dwellings, typically with flats or apartments on each floor and with shared entrance stairway access. They are common on the British Isles, particularly in Scotland. In the medieval Old Town, E ...

, P.S. Eliot, Jeffrey Lewis, Peter Stampfel, Worriers, Paisley Fields, and Lavender Country as well as comedian Chris Gethard have released records on Don Giovanni. The label has also published books from authors Larry Livermore and Bela Koe-Krompecher.

References

External links

* {{Authority control American independent record labels Record labels established in 2004 Punk record labels Companies based in Philadelphia Companies based in New Brunswick, New Jersey Record labels based in New Jersey Mass media in New Jersey Indie rock record labels Rock record labels Alternative rock record labels Post-hardcore record labels Hardcore record labels

History

Roster

See also

References

External links