No doubt you want to plug the Fifth Wheel Records 'Strike Back at the Empire' compilation. How'd you go about getting all the bands on it cause there are a few big names on it?
We contacted hundreds of acts from all over the world and let them know about the project. We ended up receiving an overwhelming response. A lot of great bands, established and un-established sent us demo's. Basically 90% of the acts on the compilation were bands that sent us CD's, although I do admit to asking Bigwig personally, after which Bob Becker (LEGEND!) of Fearless Records in the USA, donated a couple more Fearless acts to the release. Support Fearless! They are a GREAT record company.
When's the official release date for it?
Is it going to be released Australia-wide or just in Queensland?
The compilation will be released in the 1st week of July, 2001. It is to be released Australia-wide and may be distributed overseas, depending on negotiations. We have high hopes though!
You guys are a fairly young label beginning in 1999. How many people are apart of the Fifth Wheel Team and what does each do?
Fifth Wheel is very DIY. We have a small, but dedicated, staff. Daniel Field (Myself) is the label manager/head of A&R, Ben Clark handles live promotions/shows/bookings and A&R, Felipe Paez is our Publicist and there is a whole lot of people who help our here and there with all sorts of crap that comes with running a label!
You guys are mainly a punk/hardcore/ska label but you also don't mind the touch of hip-hop. Is hip-hop popular up there on the Sunshine Coast?
Hip-Hop is not huge up here, but there is a growing following and we love the music, so we choose to support it. Everyone @ 5WR LOVES extreme sports, or REAL sports as we call them! We aim to provide music to the people who also enjoy the skate/surf/snowboarding scenes, and Hip-Hop is a major part of the culture, along with Punk/Ska/Hardcore music.
Was starting a record label something you guys have always wanted to do? How did the idea blossom?
I have personally wanted to start a label since I was about 15 (I'm 21 now) and have been aiming at setting it up since then. Ben and Myself have organised over 100 All-Ages shows since about 1995 and decided that we wanted to move into producing QUALITY music, as there are so many great acts out there who don't get the recognition they deserve, especially Australian bands.
What artists do you currently have on the label?
Currently, we are working on releases with Munkyz Unkle (debut EP from Melodic Punk band from Brisbane), Agent Felix (The Australian release of these Florida Pop/Punksters' debut LP), Open For Inspection (Sunshine Coast Ska-Core), Malpunktion (Sunshine Coast Super-fast Ska/Punk), as well as hip-hop groups, R.S.M.C.B., Demolition Cru, Heavyweightz, Dropoutz and Jack The Rapper.
It says the label does not produce fabricated pop music, so I am pretty much right in saying you despise pop artists?
It's not Pop music that we despise, Just those put-together pathetic excuses for bands that major label fucks put out just to make a buck. Don't take us the wrong way, we LOVE pop-punk and other styles of pop that are genuine musicians who write their own tunes, but if you can't write your own bloody three-chord anthems for twelve year old girls to sing along to, you shouldn't be up there at all!
I'm guessing you wouldn't be a fan of Bardot or Scandalus then. What are some of your opinions on the whole Popstars concept?
What about Nikki Webster?
Popstars is a perfect example of a fucked-up industry using and abusing music as purely a product to turn over capitol, although I can't complain about that blonde in Bardot (One day those titties WILL pop-out - I have my fingers crossed!) The executives behind that show/concept should be crucified!!! I don't know much about that little girl, Nikki Webster, but as far as I understand, I was told she contributes to the writing of her own music, so more power to her!
With the label being established up at the Sunshine Coast is Fifth Wheel interested in signing any interstate bands?
Sure, we are looking at expanding our roster in the future. Any bands looking for a label to support their music and think we'd like what you have to offer, send us a demo/bio, even if you're Tasmanian (Joke! No pun intended)
What's happening in the future of Fifth Wheel? Any other releases coming up besides the compilation? Are you looking to sign some more bands?
After the overwhelming response to our first comp, we are going to work on another one for release early next year. We hope to have all the releases afore mentioned out within the next 6 months, as well as a few possible spilt EP's, and possibly some new acts.
Also I hear you are negotiating an Australian deal for the new Agent Felix album. Is that close to being sealed? Any other artists your thinking of getting released out here?
In conjunction with their US label, Distant Rise, We'll be releasing Agent Felix's debut Long-Player in the next month or so (It WILL be instores by August) We are HUGE fans of the band and are really happy about this release. Their will be an extra track included on the Australian release as well, lucky us! We're trying to bring them out here in January 2002 for an east coast tour with ODS, so keep your fingers crossed!
Also I'm just wondering where can you go out and see live punk music up at the Sunshine Coast? I know the Nambour RSL sometimes hosts the really big bands.
Dude, there is not a lot in the way of venues up here. Any "Big-Bands" that come play the Nambour RSL, which is similar to the Arena in Brisbane (except not as good!) but there is also the Sands Tavern in Maroochydore, The Kings Beach Tavern in Caloundra and Fridays niteclub in Mooloolabah. We are in the midst of negotiating the take over of a 200 person capacity club on the Sunshine Coast, so stay tuned! It will be THE home of live music on the coast. Bands who are interested in playing up here, contact Ben on 0409 594 335, and he'll try and book you some shows!
Cheers Matt!
