Redeye Label of the Month Q&A

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This Issue: Tim Putnam from Partisan Records

How did you personally get started in the music industry?

I was always drawn to music. I played music, but was never very good at it. So, those who can’t do, teach… and those who can’t teach work in the music industry.

When and where did the label begin?

We started it out of my apartment in Brooklyn, NY in 2006.

What is the meaning behind the name for the label?

It comes from the Leonard Cohen song, The Partisan.

How has the label changed since it started?

We’ve added more people, and signed more bands, and though the ethos and mission of the label has evolved, the spirit has remained the same.

Is the label tied to a specific geographical area?

How is this reflected in your releases?

We have our main offices in Brooklyn and London, though we have people working / satellite offices in LA, Virginia, Berlin, etc… and teams globally throughout the world. So I wouldn’t say our releases are necessarily tied to a specific geographical area. Great music comes from all over, and so do our artists.

Is there a genre that you would consider to be the label’s “signature style,” or is it a mix?

It is a mix.

How would you describe your overall ambitions and goals as a label from when you first started compared to now?

I never wanted to be the biggest label. I wanted us to keep improving what we do, for the artists we do it for. I also wanted the label to be a place where people who share a passion for great art could work, grow, and pursue their own dreams. Ultimately, if I do my job right, I’ll put myself out of a job. I think those ambitions have just become more solidified over the years.

How would you describe the average fan of the label?

I wouldn’t because I think everyone is different given our roster, which is eclectic.

What in your opinion has been the biggest change in the music industry from when you first started compared to now?

The emergence of digital / streaming.

If you had to start a new sub-label, what would it be called and what kind of music would it be geared towards?

It would be called Party-san Records and we’d release music about partying and such.

They say our sun will explode in about 5 billion years or so- how would you like the label to be remembered?

As a safe harbor for humans before AI took over.