Vomitron: What was the main reason(s) for you starting Sevared records?
BARRETT: I started Sevared for a couple reasons, the main reason was there was a bunch of bands that I loved that I didn't feel were available enough to the public and a lot of them very hard to find, so I want to make it easier for everybody to get the music I loved, and the other reason was that I was at the time (1997) living w/ Ryan Parrish (now known for drumming in Darkest Hour) we were best friends and he was in an amazing band called Disinterment at the time, and to make a long story short, they didn't have to money to release their debut CD, and I did at the time, and I started Sevared Records!!
Vomitron: What does it take to start a record label for this type of music?
BARRETT: To start, find a band that you love and put some money into them! To keep the label going after that it takes Heart, dedication, the will to wait (because it doesn't come overnight), networking, and doing everything you possibly can to get your name out there, the world is swamped with labels and bands, so you have to make you self stand out in someway!! Go to every local show no matter how small and all the big shows, hand out flyers, bring a box of cds to sell with you, and just keep at it!!
Vomitron: How long have you been doing the record label shit for?
BARRETT: I started it in 1997!
Vomitron: How much does (on average) it take to put out an album? price and effort wise.
BARRETT: Effort, it's never-ending!! as far as costs it would depend on the band, it's always different, but I would say if the label is paying for everything (cover art, recording, layout, mass production, t-shirts, t-shirt art/layout, flyers, ads) it's hard to say bro, it really is different for each band, and the bigger the band the more it costs, LOL!!
Vomitron: Do you have employees or is it just you behind the curtain?
BARRETT: I have a girl that works for me normally like 1 day a week pulling trades from and keeping things organized, but other than that I do it all myself!!
Vomitron: What are the most important thing(s) in running a successful record label?
BARRETT: Be honest and true to the bands and people your working with!!!
Vomitron: How do you get bands band to sign with you NOW compared to how you went about it went you first started?
BARRETT: Well, LOL.. It varies in the beginning I would write bands or see them live (most local bands) now it's way better, with e-mail you can get in contact with band right way or they can get in contact with me which has changed things like crazy. So to answer your question most of the time the bands contact me with a demo CD or e-mail, or if I hear something I think is sick, I'll try to contact the band and try to get them on the label!!
Vomitron: How long does it take (on average) to release a new album in any/either format (i.e. cassette/vinyl/CD)?
BARRETT: Well once the layout, recording, mixing and mastering are done, it takes about 3-4 weeks to get the final product. But getting the recording, mixing, mastering and layout done could take years in some cases, LOL!!
Vomitron: What have you found is the most effective way of advertising?
BARRETT: Everyway possible!!
Vomitron: How would you compare Sevared to "Bigger" labels such as Relapse or Metal Blade?
BARRETT: I don't want to compare, we all do different things!
Vomitron: Do you make a profit from your label, break even, or even lose money?
BARRETT: Yes, I make a profit, if I didn't I wouldn't be able to keep Sevared going!
Vomitron: Do or have Social Media sites like facebook, twitter, or myspace effect sales/fanbase/popularity in any notable way?
BARRETT: I stayed away from Facebook for a long time because of that fact that I just didn't like it, but my wife talked me into making a page, and it's actually very helpful getting info out to everybody about new releases, catalog updates, talking to bands etc.., so in some ways it's great, but in other ways it's offal, people stealing songs, spam, etc...
Vomitron: What is the most hindering factor to releasing new shit?
BARRETT: Putting up a bunch of money a month before you even see the product, and you never know if it will do good or not, I just go with my gut!!
Vomitron: What is your opinion on downloading music compared to buying music at a store or directly from a band/label?
BARRETT: I think it's fucked up that any true Underground Death Metal fan would ever take money directly out of a band that they like pocket's. And, I can't understand why someone wouldn't want to hold the masterpiece in their hands, with all the sick artwork, and all the work that goes into the entire process. Yeah, most of the Brutal Underground Death Metal can stand on it's own, but to me having the final product in your hands just makes everything better, most people don't realize how much goes into just releasing 1 CD, but regardless of that, if fans for the Underground keep downloading stuff free on sites that are bootlegging the music, they are ripping off the bands, and in time the bands won't be able to stay active anymore. It's not about money, but you do need money to stay alive!!
Vomitron: If you weren't running Sevared, what do you think you would be doing with your life?
BARRETT: I would be a printer!!
Vomitron: Do you have a job or trade other then running Sevared?
BARRETT: My job is Sevared, my trade is printing.
Vomitron: What are the best things in running Sevared?
BARRETT: Meeting the sick Brutal Death Metal fans from around the world, getting to hear some of the sickest Brutal Death Metal early, but mostly just doing something that I love and that I get to share my love of Brutal Death with the world through Sevared!!
Vomitron: The worst thing?
BARRETT: Never enough time to do everything I want too!
Vomitron: Do you have any other statements or advise that you would like to give for someone looking to start a record label?
BARRETT: Be true to you bands and people you deal with in the underground, as big as Death/Black/Thrash/Grind/Gore Metal is, it's a small world of tight nit people, and we all have to support each other, with out the "Family" aspect of the Underground it would fail. Never rip off a brother!!!
Vomitron: Is there anyone that you would like to thank or give a shout out to?
BARRETT: Vomitron for this interview, my wife Christina, my parents for their never-ending support, and all the Brutal Death Metal fans, labels, zines, from around the world!! SUPPORT THE UNDERGROUND!!! HTTP://SEVARED.COM
Thanks bro, much appreciated!! If this ever gets printed somewhere, please send me a copy
Sevared Records & Distribution
The fallowing questions can be found in an interview Barrett did for Slam-Minded webzine (http://slam-minded.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-with-barrett-of-sevared.html) and another interview that can be viewed in full here (http://hem.passagen.se/violentheadache/pages/interviews/interview_sevared.htm.)
SM: How and why did you start Sevared? How has it changed over the years?
BAII: I started Sevared simply for my love of Death Metal!!! Nothing has changed over the years, my reason stays the same, I love Brutal Death Metal!!!!!!
SM: What's the absolute hardest part of keeping Sevared running?
BAII: Wow, the hardest part, that's a hard question! There are so many elements to running a label! I would say the hardest part is getting started, and getting your label known in the underground!! Then comes getting bands on your label that people want to hear, then promoting the hell out of them. But I would say the hardest part is picking out of the hundreds of bands, which one to release!!!
SM: Can you bring to light for us what the actual process of releasing an album is on your label?
BAII: any album is not really mentioned until it's in the closing stages of being ready to be released, that's why when I say the album will be out soon, you send $10 the day I get the CD, it ships right out to you!! What happens before that, is let's say the band already recorded (to make it simpler) then we need to get a cover, get that made, get the album mastered, and to make a very long story short get it back from the press, and then I send it out to pretty much every country in the world!
SM: Will you be at this year's Maryland Deathfest, Central Illinois Metalfest or New England Deathfest?
BAII: Yeah bro, I already have tables paid for at the Maryland Death Fest and CIM! Absolutly stop by and hang out!!!! Everybody stop by the Sevared Rec. table and hang out!!
SM: why your label is called what it is. Why not "Severed"? Is there some portmanteau or pun I'm not getting here? Please try not to make fun of me too much.
BAII: I've always been asked that same question, the name comes from an ancient Chinese ninja art..... No, really back in 1997 I was fed up with the guys in my band, so I decided to start my own band where I played everything myself, and the idea was that I was severed from all band members. Then I had a logo made,and pretty much just kept it after that! And also, that way nobody can take the name!!
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Q: The pleasure is all mine! How long have you been doing this and what came first? The record label or distribution?
Barrett Amis II: I started doing Sevared Records. in 1997. It all actually started because my roommate Ryan Parrish (now in Darkest Hour) was in a band called Disinterment, sick Brutal yet melodic Death Metal band from Richmond, Virginia, and the band had been around for a couple years, and finally got to the point where they needed to release a CD! At the time the band (Disinterment) didn't have the money to put out the CD themselves, and there was no label support at the time. At that time I was doing my magazine called "Sevared Pages", and I happened to have the money they needed to release the CD, so I said, "I'll start a label and release your CD on it", and Sevared Records was born. Then slowly after that I started doing trades here and there getting cds, tapes, etc. from other bands and labels. So, I started bringing a suitcase to shows (whenever there was a metal show) of the extra copies I had from doing trades etc., and so the distro was born, and now it's half my house. It won't fit in a suitcase anymore *laughter*
Q: Many labels, distros and musicians who live on the music made their statement on illegal downloading. What is your opinion on the subject?
A: I think it fucking sucks! Now, if you download an album, just to hear it, and then you go out to buy the album once released, that's fine, but for all the people out there that just download the music, and never buy the albums or go to shows, that is exactly what kills the scene!!! There is no "Big Money" in Extreme metal, unless you're somebody like Cannibal Corpse, or that metalcore shit that's plagueing the world nowadays. But for underground brutality, downloading the music kills the bands and labels, and everything else involved! You must support the scene, that's the only way the scene keeps alive! This new wave of people just burning cds is killing a lot of bands (most importantly) and labels!! I would just say, download the music, great! If you like it then go buy the original CD from the band or label. Keep the scene alive!!
Q: Some of the more mainstream bands, like Cannibal Corpse, cannot be found in your distro catalog. How do you decide which cds, that are not signed to Sevared, you sell?
BAII: It varies. I have distributed Cannibal Corpse cds in the past, but I do mostly trading with labels. Some labels, that don't do a distro, I'll buy the cds from, but for the most part, I like to do trades, keeps the underground alive. I like to keep my prices at $10.00 and for some release (that I have to buy) the highest is $12.00, but I like to keep everything as cheap as possible, without loosing money! To get as much of the sick brutality around the world as I can!!