Ondalabel #8

Founded respectively in 2013 and 2017, Bobo Integral and Meritorio are small DIY labels born in Madrid. Over the years they've drawn a considerable roster of bands from all over the world, all bearing a recognizable guitar-pop imprint. In short, they've built a scene that isn't geographic, but centred around the labels themselves. They've given visibility to small bands and a home to records that were still left in limbo (as in the case of Butcher The Bar). We sent the two owners, Gonzalo Marcos and Alvaro Lisson Aguiar, a few questions to get them talking about their “enterprise”. Further down, you'll find interviews with some of their artists, to understand their relationship with the label.

What led you to start your label? How has the role of labels changed in recent years?

Bobo Integral: It was something I'd had in mind, born out of curiosity, of wanting to learn and do something other than pursue a dull career as an engineer. I never found the right moment, but it was hearing a demo by Los Nuevos Hobbies that made me decide to take the plunge. Right now there's just so much music out there… I think independent labels mainly serve as curators. I just hope there are people paying attention to the bands I work with simply because they're part of the label. Beyond that, I think we help keep alive this outdated idea of a collection of 10-12 songs at a time, for a little while longer. I've always loved LPs, they feel like the perfect format to me.

Meritorio: I'm a fan of independent music, someone who loves music, who's living out his dream. I think the role of independent labels is the same as it's always been: the main purpose is to make records to sell them and keep on making them!

What's changed is that there are many more small labels (and fewer go-to names), aimed at enthusiasts who try to juggle their time to find a balance with everyday work (and life).

Is there a reason behind the concentration of indie-pop labels in Madrid? What's the situation like for independent music in Spain?

Bobo Integral: the situation is bad, like everywhere else. There's little interest and we're far from being sustainable, or at least I am. For some reason, in Madrid, and in the rest of Spain, there are people like me starting and folding labels that are really interesting. Here we always joke that when you're young and broke but have time, you start bands, and when you've grown up and have no time but have money, you start labels. Obviously, nobody had explained to us how much time it takes to keep a label running! That said, in Spain there are people very devoted to music who are interested in whatever we put out.

Meritorio: I don't know... Spain has a tradition of independent labels. Elefant or Siesta made a name for themselves in the past, and I think there are several labels across the whole country, not just in Madrid. I'm thinking of Pretty Olivia (Alicante), You Are The Cosmos (Zaragoza), Kocliko (Navarra), Hanky Panky (Bilbao), Discos de Kirlian (Barcelona) and Caballito (Cádiz), among others. I think there are lots of good labels in Spain and that we're on par with American or British indie labels.

How rigid are you when it comes to shaping a sound, a style for the label? Do you just follow your own taste, or would you ever pass on signing a band you like because you don't think it fits your label's style?

Bobo Integral: I have fairly consistent taste, and with age I've grown lazier and don't really pay attention to much that falls outside my usual range. That said, I trust that if I like a band, there will be people just as interested as I am.

Meritorio: I try to follow my own taste and put out records that are usually rooted in guitar-pop or indie-rock. I like other genres too, like folk, country or jazz, but I find it hard to imagine releasing records that fall outside the Meritorio sound.

Have you had the chance to get involved with the artists in the production of the records too? If not, would you like to?

Bobo Integral: So far they've always just sent me the finished album and we've released it as is. I firmly believe a label's involvement should be minimal in every respect. I play in a couple of bands myself and I generally never want anyone to change anything based on suggestions coming from above.

Meritorio: Some bands have asked me for my opinion on certain songs, and quite a few let me help choose the final mixes or the tracklist... which is nice!

Many independent labels, in the past, used to have a distinctive image, with their record covers made by the same artists or illustrators. Do you think the artwork of your releases should also follow a particular style?

Bobo Integral: I've thought about this a lot, and maybe it's something we'll do in the future, as long as the bands want to, of course.

Meritorio: That's not really how I do things; the idea would be for the bands to drive the process... Normally I accept whatever they come up with, because they created and recorded the music, so I think they know the perfect artwork for the album better than me!

Artists

Why did you choose to sign with a label instead of self-releasing your music?

Lachlan Denton (BI): Gonzalo reached out to me, out of nowhere, about my first solo record, "Two Months In Ben Woolley's Room", and he had genuine enthusiasm about the idea of putting it out on vinyl. That record had originally only been released on cassette, so I thought, what the hell. From then on I found Gonzalo to be one of the easiest and most genuine people to work with. I met him in Spain and I was struck by what a wonderfully sincere person he is in real life. I release my music in Australia but had no idea how to go about it in Europe. Having Bobo Integral put my music out there for a lot of people on the other side of the world is a real blessing.

Butcher The Bar (BI): At first, we were going to self-release our album "III", a record we'd recorded a while back, and I wanted to leave it be so I could focus on a new record. I discovered Bobo Integral early on after listening to the Dumb Things record – which is a great record, by the way – after which I sent them our album and we decided to work together on a release. Having people outside the band helping you promote your music is a huge help, not just because it opens up the possibility of a lot more people hearing your music, but also because the enthusiasm and encouragement that comes with it really helps, and can counterbalance the self-deprecating self-promotion that artists often hide behind.

Poppel (M): Poppel's early releases came out on Gazer Tapes, my small label. We mostly put out cassettes because, quite simply, they're the cheapest option. When Meritorio came along, we went to see their bands and were completely blown away. We had to put our album out with them for the international exposure, the better distribution, the larger roster of bands sharing the same style... It all comes from a genuine love of music, and that's what we really like about it. We think that's the most important thing, and in a sense Meritorio Records is the embodiment of love and music. It's not so obvious these days that labels put out whatever they feel like.

Holy Tunics (M): For me it's mostly about reaching a wider audience, as well as being associated with other bands whose music I'd actually listen to myself. Someone might stumble onto my songs through another band on the label and end up getting into my music too. Plus, having a global community is a really nice idea. Luckily Meritorio is very cool about it and I can still self-produce my own cassettes.

Do you know other artists on the label? Would you be open to collaborating with any of them (for instance on a split)?

Lachlan Denton (BI): Always up for a collaboration. I make a ton of music and I love collaborating.

Butcher The Bar (BI): I don't know any of the other artists on the label personally, but I'm definitely a fan of the others. Dumb Things, whom I've already mentioned, and Lachlan Denton's latest record is great, so beautiful. I'm actually just getting into his new record with Emma Russack, which I'm really enjoying after a couple of listens, but yeah, it would be crazy to collaborate on something, great idea OndaRock! Make it happen!

Poppel (M): Definitely. There's this odd story about Sprinters. With Poppel we used to play this song of theirs live called "Lloret Train". We really loved their first record, but it was really underground at the time. We were so happy to find out they were joining Meritorio! Now we're labelmates with one of our favorite bands. Really amazing!

Holy Tunics (M): I joined Meritorio through my good friends Smokescreens, and I'd gladly do a collaboration with anyone on the label. Collaborations are a lot of fun and they create something unique.

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