by Brad Rose

I set up MonotypeRec in 2004. There were 2 other guys who helped me running the label at that time, but they gave up afterwards due to lack of time. However, the idea to run the label had appeared much earlier. From the onset the main reason was to publish and promote Polish artists in possibly the most professional way. We stood for high publishing standard and CD release (not CDR). Luckily, we gained the sympathy of the mass media in Poland and therefore wide group of people found out about our existence. We got the reviews in Playboy, Newsweek, the most important daily papers and public TV or radio. The next step was to extend the catalogue with foreign artists – at this moment the catalogue includes equally Polish artists and titles from abroad.

As a matter of fact it emerged in my “on Stereotype and its antithesis” dream. For me the origin is quite funny. And I didn’t realize that there was something like Monotype font.

Anyway, I do think it sounds good.

Passion!! The basic motivator!! I love doing these things. It makes me keep going.

And I think that the following thing contributing to long-lasting activity in the field is the fact that I don’t consider MonotypeRec as being my source of income. And it isn’t. I’ve got a regular work with steady money and it gives me the comfort to run the label without the pressure and stress.

I don’t think launching a new label is something difficult these days. The problem is to maintain it, to keep releasing things. Since people are provided with CDR recorders and digital printing-houses got popularity, everybody can start a low-cost production. And add the Internet as the most powerful media (for its accessibility) that substitutes magazines, radio, TV and stores... The internet is the labels’ largest enemy.

The MP3 format becoming so common and the voices supporting the idea that it should be free of charge (this is how it is perceived in Poland, at least) cause the follow-up “premiere” in the web and an obvious drop in sale of original albums.

There are so many great artists to cooperate with that I can’t point out just one or few. I’m in touch with several artists and their albums are the next to be published – e.g. Tetuzi Akiyama, Thomas Lehn, Gunter Muller, Michel Doneda among others.

I receive lots of demos and I’m still open to new material. But I have to admit that most of all I release the material that was previously ordered from artists to whom I put forward the proposal.

Now I’m in the process of promoting 3 newest MonotypeRec releases: Eric la Casa & Jean-Luc Guionnet "Inscape. Lille-Flandres", Lionel Marchetti & Jean-Baptiste Favory "100 000 Années", and T. Gadomski & T. Mirt "Si si".

There are further plans till summer: Tetuzi Akiyama/Franz Hautzinger/Masachiko Okura, Cremaster, Michel Doneda/Nicolas Desmarchelier/Olivier Toulemonde, Gunter Muller (double CD with Argentinian trio) and others.

The next thing we’re trying to make thriving is our online shop and distribution. We’re also working on a magazine with numerous interviews with highly valued (and beloved) artists, lots of reviews and translations of articles on art in general. It will be issued as an internet magazine to download (both Polish and English). The first issue will be in mid-February.

A tough question. I’ve been listening to a varied number of releases currently and these are the first that crossed my mind (at random):
- Abrahams, Chris & Mike Cooper "Oceaning Feeling" on Like
- Akiyama / Taxt / Lřnning / Reinertsen "Varianter av dřde trćr"
- John Butcher "Resonant Spaces"
- Lionel Marchetti/Seijiro Murayama "Hatali Atsalei"

And there are, of course, more albums that moved me last year...

I’d like to thank you Brad for the opportunity to present MonotypeRec to the wider audience. People willing to collaborate are asked to contact us.
Welcome to our website to anybody interested.