Midnight Funeral.

So this interview was conducted with Craigos from Midnight Funeral Records or xClagsteinx from the internet. Usually when I look at bands or people I want to do interviews with I pick them on the basis of, are they of interest to myself, will other people find them as interesting as I do. But with this interview I really couldn't care if no one else read it. Its one I have wanted to do for a while. I think Midnight Funeral is probably one of the most exciting labels currently putting out records. Why? Because Craig only puts out amazing bands and the records are always exclusive to vinyl. While there are many that say vinyl is a dead format, Craig is probably doing more than anyone else in this country to try and get vinyl back up on its feet. And really, at the end of the day, who buys CD's anymore?

Hey man. Can I grab your name, what you do at Midnight Funeral and what is the most exciting record you have purchased recently?

My Name is Craig Wainwright, but most people know me as Craigos. I run Midnight Funeral Music. The most exciting record I have bought recently is “Refused – This just might be the truth”. I actually did not know that this was ever pressed onto LP, and I always thought it was just a CD, as I had never seen or even heard of it in a vinyl configuration. I spent way too much on it, but I am stoked, as I seriously don’t know if I’ll ever see another one.

This isn't the first label you have run, you used to have another (the name escapes me) but that label kind of slowed down and eventually died. How come you decided to start up a fresh label instead of picking up the old one?

My Wife and I used to run a label called “Sightline Records”, but working with bands that you are mates with doesn’t always work out the way you plan it to.

It was a proper label (Not that Midnight Funeral isn’t a proper label, but it works very differently) in that we had full Distribution, and we put a fair bit of money, time and effort into helping bands to master their records, make sure they still owned all their own music, and if they wanted to release it on other formats or in other countries, we did everything we could to help them out. We also booked tours and shows and did what we could to get the bands onto international supports, but seeing as it was all very business like, some of the dudes in the bands decided that were too good for what we could offer, and bailed last minute on some releases, just as we were starting to pump some money into them. I know it sounds kinda weird, but that’s how it was, contracts, money, the whole kit and caboodle, and some bands/dudes were just being total fuckheads, and really left us in the lurch. So we ended the label and moved on to other things in life.

I started Midnight Funeral as an idea with my mate Shane (Seduction), that we would release a 7 inch of a band we liked, in a short run (approx 150-200 copies), and then once it had sold out, we would move on to the next band/release. Shane kinda lost interest, but I still wanted to do a Vinyl only label (Although I have since moved on to doing a tape or two also). I heard the I Exist demo online, got super stoked on it, rang a mutual mate and tee’d up a conversation with Aaron, and the rest, as they say, is Histroy.

I just want to do short(ish) runs of records, try and have the artwork be an integral part of the package and just try and have some fun with it.

So what is it about this label that you want to do differently to your previous effort?

See the above answer for some of it, but I also wanted to something where I did work with my mates, and there was no bullshit, no money being talked about (Don’t worry, I still pay my bands!), and just try and have some fun with it. I don’t have the band sign anything, I don’t give them instructions, and if I can afford what they want to do, then we do it. The main problem with some of the ideas I/The Bands have is, because we are in Australia, and everything is so much more expensive to do here, or to get shipped to here, it can be very hard to do super slick and gnarly packaging. But I do try my best. Also, because I do it all on my own, shit can take a bit longer than anticipated sometimes… But more on that later.

Having spoken to a few other guys that do labels, I have been reassured that if you think you will make money on releasing a record, or even breaking even, 9 times out of 10 you are going to be disappointed. But Midnight Funeral's first release I Exist 'Three Nails And A Book Of Flaws' sold out its first pressing! Was that a bit of a shock?

It was a bit of a shock. I thought it was going to do ok, but not as good as it has. I have about 10 copies left all up in a box in my study, and people still buy one every week or so, so it won’t be long until they’re all gone.

As for making money on releases: You’re right in that breaking even on a vinyl release is pretty hard sometimes, but I try and do a release that will sell pretty well, then one I really want to do but won’t do so well in sales, and then one that will do okay again. You just try and do the best you can I guess.

MFM002 (Seduction - Black Cranes) however wasn't quite as smooth though... I ordered that record and remember it took ages to be posted. What went on with that record?

Dude, so much went fucking wrong with this release. First up, the band fell apart. It’s pretty fucked up, but we had pumped all this money into this release, blew every budget we had, booked a tour and then one of the dudes in the band didn’t want to do some of the shows, we all had a big fight and the band ended there. But I had just ordered 500 7 inches, that had been pressed and were on their way.

Then, the band had originally agreed to help me print all the covers (2 colour screen print on hand assembled chipboard covers), and then help me put them all together (cut up the patches, burn the CD’s, print and cut the inserts and then glue all the covers together), but after the band broke up, shit got kind of weird with one or two of the dudes, and I ended up having to do the whole lot myself, which was fine, but it was a shit tonne of work, and I had a short amount of time to get it all done.

Anyways, as it stands, I couldn’t afford to buy all 500 of the covers, so I got about 220, and I have about 20 left. After that, if people still want to buy the fucking thing, I have no idea what to do about it, as I can’t afford to buy the rest of the covers from the dude who had them all cut. It was a fucked situation, and it really upsets me, as I truly believe it is the best piece of work I have ever been involved in, and I don’t know if I can ever top it lyrically. It sounds fucking top notch, and I am as proud as shit of it, but it leaves a super bad taste in my mouth.

The Suffer LP went pretty smooth in comparison to that one…

What other hazards have you encountered with putting your records out?

I have just found out that there has been a major fuck up with the Defeat 7 inch, and I need to change plants. Which fucking shits me, because I have waited 8 weeks for the fucking thing, and it was never pressed. I can tell ya, I won’t be using those fucktards again. Other than plants fucking with you, The laws are different in each country in regards to actually pressing records, and in some US states you need written contracts and shit to press a record there, and it would just cost too much for a little label like mine to run that shit, so I have had to find other plants to suss my stuff. Pirates Press have been awesome to me for the first 3 releases, and the next 3 will be with Vinyl Factory in Sydney. I am super glad to be using an Australian Plant for pressing, as I do love to keep the money here in Australia. It can be hard though, I have tried to use a plant in Melbourne, but they never answered my emails…

Releasing a vinyl record can't be nearly as easy as releasing a CD. There is the choice of what colour wax, gatefold or sleeve, screen printed artwork or just normal ink and many other options in regard to layout. Does taking all of these things into account and having to work out costs, time frames before the master is even sent to the plant just seem like too much of a hassle at times?

I guess it can be a major pain in the ass, but at the same time, I am a nerd when it comes to pressing and vinyl, so I really don’t mind all that much. I usually do all my packaging stuff here in Australia, so I can still support some Australian businesses, (I actually did the whole lot on the Suffer LP, bacuase it was just a fuckload easier to do it that way). I also screen print a lot of the covers myself, as I like to be involved like that. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I have my garage floor covered n 7 inch or LP covers that have just been printed.

I really wish I could afford to do all sorts of crazy shit, but it just costs so much in Australia. Gatefold Sleeves and shit like that would be sick, but would push every single one of my costs just that much higher, that the product would be too expensive. Much like the recent Amity LP, which will look fucking awesome, as it cost a mint to make I am sure, but it also cost an assload to order.

Not only are all of these things a hassle but printing a record is substantially more expensive than printing a CD. Kind of the reverse of how it was in the 1980's. Do you make it your mission to find the cheapest way to get the records to print?

You’re always going to try and make what you do streamlined, but I don’t know if there is a cheap way to do this really. While I do like to save a buck or two, I think I prefer the easy and quick option over super cheap. I am currently working with a couple plants and I have also found some good suppliers of paper stock, so I can print shit a lot cheaper.

You do some of the screen printing yourself and invest quite a lot in the label. Is it just for the love of vinyl that you run this label and put so much of yourself into it?

Pretty much. There is very little cash in doing just vinyl, and if I didn’t love it, it would drive me fucking insane.

To be honest, I love the whole process. The pressing, the printing, the putting everything together, all the way up to packing the records for posting. I love getting records in the mail, and I am super stoked to give other people that experience.

Actually speaking of screen printing, do you do that at work (Is that your job)? Or do you have a set up in you garage or something?

I just have a little set up in the garage (The Midnight Funeral Parlour). It does the job for now.

Running a label is pretty time consuming. You have a job, band, wife. Do you find it hard to devote time to all the other aspects of your life outside the label? Or is it the opposite? Are there times when the label suffers due to not having enough time?

I am lucky enough to have a wife that is supportive of what I do with the label, and as is the case with all vinyl pressing, there are always delays, so the time pretty much ruins itself. Hahaha.

So these are just some quickies to wrap up with.

Its well known that you're a record buff. So lets talk wax.

The one record that will be never be sold?

Darkest Hour – Undoing Ruin Test Press LP. Limited to 5 copies, signed by the whole band. I’m going to be buried with it.

The one record that you most regret selling?

A Mindsnare record that was a gift. That’s all I’m gonna say, because it constantly bums me out…

If you had to give give up your entire collection in trade for one record what would it be?

Shit, I have a good collection, so it would have to be a low numbered copy of the first Nirvana Single, signed by the band. A pretty tall order, but fuck, 600 records is a big deal…

How many records do you own?

About 600 at the moment. Split pretty much half LP’s and half 7 inches.

Do woman understand record collecting?

Some do, mine does a little bit. But it does seems to be a male thing more so.

Whats the obsession with red wax?

I just like Red. It looks nice. No other reason really.

Um, that's it man. Is there anything you would like to plug before we finish up?

Shitloads. Cheers for everyone who supports the label and local Hardcore/Punk/Metal music, and the labels behind them.

Check out myspace.com/midnightfuneralmusic because I have some kickass records coming out:

Mid Youth Crisis – Happiness and Authority LP

4Dead – Blood and Piss LP

A Secret Death – S/T LP

I Exist – I: A turn for the worse LP

Abraxis – S/T LP

Risk and Reason 7 inch EP

Party Vibez – S/T 7 inch EP

Buy Vinyl. CD is a dead format.

This man speaks the truth. CD's are dead. Wax or bust. If you don't own a record that Craig has put out then finish reading here and go to his link and buy something. The guy puts so much money and time into helping bands get a release out and the least you could do is throw $10 at him. It really helps, more than you know.

News.

I have been meaning to do some form of news update for this for a while. But I really have just been to lazy to get around to it. But I figure now is a good time.

Item 1. What am I doing with this zine? Good question, I have no idea. I am not really sure why I started it. Nor do I know how long I will do it for. But I do know that there is a tangible copy of this zine coming October(ish). A lot of the interviews I conduct for this (web)zine will be with Australian bands or smaller international ones. The print version of the zine however, is with international bands only. The interviews the print copy contains are not being published online. I have currently completed 3 of the 10 interviews. Stay tuned.

PS. This October deadline may not happen. I am pretty slack with how I run this zine. I could probably run it better. But sometimes I really just cant seem to find the effort.

Item 2. You said you would post record reviews and good vegetarian food recipes. What gives. I really would love to do this. But I would really prefer it if I could take photographs while I cook. Makes the post a little bit more interesting. As for records, you have to take pictures of records if you review them. The idea of owning a record is to appreciate it as a package. From the artwork, to what its printed on. Gatefold or just a sleeve? What colour the record itself is and any other goodies that come with it.

My excuse. I used to own a digital camera. Pretty sure I left it in Japan. My phone 'had' an excellent camera. But I dropped my phone in a bucket of paint 9 months ago. Not only does the camera on it not work but the phone barely works itself. I have to put up with it for a further 12 months before my plan is up. My girlfriend has a an iPhone. But lets be honest the camera's on those thing are less than perfect. I don't think the camera on one of those would really do some of the records I own justice. Artwork needs to be appreciated.

This problem might be resolved around christmas time. If I get lucky with a new camera. Maybe.

Item 3. I have a Facebook page for this blog. Whenever an interview is posted here I post a link to it on that page. So if you are at all interested in following this blog, 'like' the page. Suggest it to your friends etc etc.

Cheers.

Legions.

Without a shadow of a doubt, I would have to say that the S/T release Josh talks about in this interview is probably the one record to be released this year, that I am really hanging out for. It is really rare that I band will come along and blow you away with a demo. But Legions have some how achieved this. At least on myself. For such a young group of people they are really quite incredible. Both in song writing and in maturity. I wouldn't go so far as to say that there is 'hype' surrounding this band, but there are definitely great expectations and they have in no way grown arrogant due to all this new attention. I'll stop sweating them now. Have a read.

So can I grab your name, what you do in Legions and roughly how excited are you to see Death Before Dishonour?

Josh, vocals. I won’t lie- I’m not a huge DBD fan per se, I mean I am pretty psyched on a few tracks and I’m looking forward to checking them out. But I’m mostly looking forward to seeing Relentless play some new stuff, the couple of tracks I’ve heard are dope.

Lets get straight into it. You guys have a 7'' coming out on Arrest Records. How is that coming a long?

Pretty shockingly, haha. We’ve been recording it ourselves, and because of that we’ve been able to scrap tracks and re-record them over and over again. We’re all perfectionists so naturally, we keep delaying it. Sorry if we’ve kept anyone waiting!

How did that actually come about? Did Greg approach you or was it the other way around?

Greg showed some interest in us when we put our demo out, and when he started Arrest he approached us about putting a record out with him. We hadn’t really even considered what the next step for us was at that point, and seeing the things he’s put together since starting the label pointed us in that direction when the time came for us to start putting our own release together.

Are there any details you can give in regards to the EP? Date, title?

We don’t have a definite date yet, but the 7” is four tracks, self-titled, available on vinyl hopefully with digital download.

You put up a new track from that 7'' a while ago. How have people received it so far?

It’s been real good, I mean, this was the first track we did with our new guitarist Owen, and he wrote a majority of the riffs (I wrote most of the riffs on the demo). I think we’ve pretty much sorted out what we’re doing with sound now, and Owen had a big influence on that. We’ve had nothing but positive feedback about it, so we’re stoked.

From talking to friends, people on the internet, you guys are gaining quite a following. Is this surprising at all? People taking such a liking to you before your first release?

I’m pretty excited that people are getting into us, and hopefully that will only increase when we hit some other states this summer. I still sorta feel like people are judging us a little based on the fact we’re young kids, but it doesn’t bother me a whole lot.

You're all a pretty young bunch of guys. I was actually really surprised when I heard your demo and then the new song (which is rediculously good). How the hell are all you guys such good song writers at such a young age?

Ripping off riffs helps. Nah haha, I think we just have a good process of writing songs where we all have an input.

Speaking of song writing. How do you guys put together all these tracks together?

Rather than going ahead and trying to figure out a song in the middle of practice, we sit down together and put drum parts to riffs that any of us, but usually Owen, come up with at home. We think about ways to improve it and try out different things, and record a draft with midi drums and guitar software and shit, and I take a copy of that and write my lyrics over it.

I tried to book you guys down for a show a while ago and it sort of went no where due to school commitments. Eventually you guys played at Morgans house. When is everyone due out of school? And do you plan on maybe trying to tour on the back of the 7''?

Me and Elliott (drums) are the only ones left in school. Brandon (guitar) is at uni and Tiernan and Owen are working. Me and Elliott finish our exams in November, so we plan to tour as much as possible. At the moment, if all goes as planned, we should hopefully be doing an east coast tour off the back of our 7”.

These are just some quick ones to finish up on.
Who is a good up and coming band you guys have have stumbled across lately?

To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot of new bands around lately that have caught my attention. Warbrain are relatively new and their demo is fucking great, and they’re even better live. Helta Skelta from Perth are also an awesome band. I’ve heard good things about a band from Melbourne called Rainmaker. I’ve been listening to the Elegy demo a little, great stuff. Our friends Endless Heights, Phantoms, Relentless and Fixtures, while they aren’t necessarily new, are definitely my four favourite bands in Sydney.

What record is getting a regular listen on your ipod lately?

I don’t have an iPod but I’ve been listening to Africa – Toto on repeat a fair bit, the new Daylight record, new Bitter End, some Elliott Smith, Righteous Jams demo, and I predict I’ll be giving the Dead End Path 7” a thrashing this week.

What is one thing you hate about being in a band?

Arguing with dudes in the band sucks. Also, we don’t drive much so getting to shows that are a little out of our way is difficult. But there’s nothing I really ‘hate’ about being in a band, I don’t think I’d waste my time with it if there was something that really bothered me about it.
Thanks alot man!

Due to the fact that I have no idea when this record will be appearing, I am to say when to head over to the Arrest Records web store to grab it. But you should definitely keep an ear out, because I don't think this is a record that you will want to miss. It is also good to see that another up and coming band's record will pass through the hands of Greg Bower. This guy is probably doing more for Australian hardcore at the moment than anyone has done in a long time (Graham Nixon and Nigel Melder aside).

Legions