We interviewed Richard Knox of Gizeh Records in Glasgow King Tut’s dressing room.
Helen Newbery: So, tell me about Gizeh!
RK: Well, we’re based in Leeds, and we were originally set up to put out Glissando records, doing handmade CDs. We then decided to step up and start doing things properly. I set it up about 5 years ago.
HN: How do you get involved with bands?
RK: We get demos through; usually bands who are like other bands on the label. We get a lot of unsolicited stuff, although the bands we work with usually have some kind of link with someone else on the label; it’s not just random.
HN: So do you actually listen to all the demos you get sent?
RK: Yes! It’s not all pleasant, a lot of it is rubbish. A lot of bands go into the studio, do a recording and then send it out to labels without doing their research - you tend to find those are the ones that are not particularly good. You can’t work with everything. W’re also always looking for support bands, as we put on shows under the label as well.
HN: Do you just work with bands from Leeds?
RK: We have bands from everywhere. Glissando and Immune are from Leeds, [Her Name Is] Calla are from Leicester, and Profane are from Manchester.
HN: So is everything you do put out on a limited run?
RK: The albums will be about 2000. The EPs and singles will be limited to about 500. We like to keep them down, although it is still difficult to shift 500 sometimes.
HN: What are your next releases?
RK: Well, Calla are releasing ‘A Moment Of Clarity’ on Monday. It’s the first vinyl we’ve done. We’re planning an Immune single, but the singer badly broke his leg at the weekend – they were down to tour, but they can’ do it now. Then there’ll be another Calla single in about February and an album from them as well next year. We like to make it like a family - we don’t do contracts or anything. It’s all done by gentlemens agreements – I want it to be done on the basis of friendship. They have an input in the label; we have an input in the band. We don’t make a profit - all the money goes into the label.
HN: So do you always tour with the bands as well?
RK: I love being on tour, this week’s been brilliant. I love touring with my band [Glissando] as well. We’ve got four dates coming up, three in Leeds and one in Lancaster, and then we’ll be taking a break for a while. We got named as one of the top five bands in Leeds, which is pretty cool.
HN: You don’t find it boring, spending a lot of time in venues and so on?
RK: It’s good having the internet in the dressing rooms, you can keep up with reviews etc, and it’s nice to keep on top of things. I used to feel when I was on the road that everything stopped, but now it’s as if everything is still going on.
HN: How did you get involved with Calla?
RK: Elly [of Glissando] met the Callas on tour in January. Our dog was sick, but Elly played on her own and they really liked it. They exchanged messages, then we saw them in Leeds and chatted. The potential for the TRAiNS tour came up, and here we are.
HN: So how many bands are you representing at the moment?
RK: Actively, three at the moment, including Glissando. In total we’ve had about seven or eight bands, putting out various EPs and albums.
HN: Are you looking to expand?
RK: If we can afford to do it, we will, but we’re on a tight budget. We try to push a band as far as we can. Calla have a bit more commercial potential, there’s at least two singles and an album there. Some bands just don’t have that potential. Unlike a lot of labels, I like everything on the label. We have a fanbase who will buy everything on the label, just because it’s on the label. I would never put anything out that I wasn’t 100 per cent behind.
HN: Do you feel you’ve shown that it’s possible to do this sort of thing outside London?
RK: I’ve never been down there. There’s so much going on in Leeds, especially at our level, putting on shows; there’s a real community thing. It’s good that a city the size of Leeds is so supportive. There’s loads of venues, there’s pretty much every option, whatever you’re into, and I just don’t see any reason to move. You could go and see something really good every night of the week.
HN: Thanks, and all the best for rest of the tour.
www.myspace.com/gizehrecords
www.gizehrecords.com
