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DIY people and projects
small, unsigned, indie, guerilla, punk, boutique, DIY labels and others

DIY music sites

Here are some independent labels, artists and related sites I’ve met up with online in the past couple of years, mainly UK based.

I started this list before MySpace and Facebook when it was harder to find fellow DIYers but it’s still well worth a browse, and always inspirational.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Indie siteWhat they’re up to…
AAnticulture RecordsGutworm, The Inbreds, Happyface… it’s not horticulture
 Chick AtkinsonIndie-folk CD, mostly guitar and vocals with the odd bongo thrown in
 Audio AndroidCritically acclaimed music producer, sonic designer, all around audio junky Darren Leigh Purkiss
 AvonKen Peel’s debut album Salary Man is on Iris Light Records
BAlex BachAn interesting indie story, now with music on iTunes and CD Baby
 Glyn BaileyGigs and 2 excellent CDs Toys From Balsa and Songs From The Old Illawalla
 Barking SpidersA new mix of management, label and promotion services by indie artists
 David Beard MusicDerbyshire based film music production company supplying music and sound design
 BeatcaveAnother multi-talented geezer, and another Scot too
 Martin BirdProduction music and sound design for film, documentry and TV—composer and music producer
 Chris BlackwellIf you are having trouble getting your music career off the ground… look away now
 The Blue MaskMusic soundtracks for film, TV, websites, adverts, video games, presentations
 Buddha’s Last T PartyAmbient folk, casual blues & celtic knots with CDs on CD Baby
 BurakBurak’s latest release Where Can I Go is available now at CD Baby
CCarlospresentsPlays guitar in The Merry Men and his own web site is sometimes up here
 ccalamOne of my favourite DIY artists, an excellent CD… and of course on MySpace
 The CedarsThe soundtrack to a wild, liquor-fuelled hoe-down!
 Chime Cottage MusicLush synthesizers, screaming guitars… mixture of both with a plethora of electronic extras
 Coaching With SoulSally Rivers’ vocal training
 CurfewDIY CDs and distribution, electronic orchestration with vocals
 CusackThink… Elliott Smith, the Lemonheads and the Velvet Underground…
DDark House MultimediaBoutique recording for singer-songwriters, voice artists, small band setups (Bristol)
 Madoc DaviesComposer and musician, 3 CDs and downloads available online
 Matt DowningOriginal music, production work for other artists, theatrical sound design
 DubsoundsIf you make it yourself, using electronic hardware or software, we would like to hear from you!
 Owen DuffSelf-recorded album through a small independent record label coming soon… MySpace
EEarthstar *Creative projects coordinating, collaborating, producing and performing
FFence RecordsScottish indie with a good bunch of artists
 Fin MusicA long-established online indie label with a well-crafted site
 FisherKathy Fisher and Ron Wasserman were signed to UMG but are now very successful independent artists
 Dave FiuczynskiThe Headless Torsos play jazz rock fusion, Dave is a superb performer, arranger and composer
 FloronAn album of upbeat-driving tracks and dark-brooding melodies from CD Baby (mixed by Tim)
 Flying Mountain RecordsDrongo (lofi-funk, raga frenzies and urban mantras) and others
 Charlie FoulkesHer debut solo CD University of Life is available as a free download
 F-Shine RecordsRichard IV Presents, Axel and the Farmers, Ben and the Pimps
GGentle RobotThe EP features the mellow fan fave Why as well as the straight ahead rocker, Obstacle.
 GlideascopeEP, a blend of classical, triphop and world music influences
 Chris GrantSinger/songwriter, guitar, keys (live work inc. O2 Academy) looking for support vocalists & musicians
 Paul GrayExcellent bass player, New Deal for Musicians activist, and DIYer
HHairthievesAn eclectic mix of ambient jazz pop rock indie punk soundtracks
 The Hamsters“Into our 24th Year and performed more than 4000 Concerts” legendary Essex rockers
 Heather DaleHeather tours full-time (100+ concerts/year in North America and Europe) with fellow musician Ben Deschamps
 Sara HickmanDropped by Elektra, her fans helped her buy back her album and she has been on her own Sleeveless since
 Hollow SunHollow Sun specialises in authentic recreations of vintage electrical and electronic musical instruments
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JJon James HallA mix of music, art and film… and a free CD
KKashaHis style is poetic, emotional and his words tell stories of his surroundings, life, love and fantasy
 Fiona KeenanPercussive fingerpicked guitar playing, fearless stage presence and prolific songwriting
 Nik KershawNow releasing his excellent CD and iTunes catalogue on his own Short House Records label
LListen With SarahCDs with inspiration from neptune, and the ancient art of computer whispering
 Lovejoy”…one of the freshest sounds I've heard in sometime; progressive rock meets Motown…”
 Lykwyd ChykynA mix between the Flaming Lips, Depeche Mode, and Carly Simon
MAl Marconi‘Smooth New World Flamenco’ production, composition, gigs and CDs
 MarillionBack in the studio writing album 17 with no sign of stalling, Marillion play festivals around Europe in 2010
 Andy MartinSex appeal to the ears from a versatile master songwriter
 Natalie MerchantAnother ex-Elektra artist, Merchant (10,000 Maniacs) now looks after her own business
 The Merry MenGigging and recording band
 MKM DigitalNon profit making co-operative music label, distributing funds and help to art in music
 Moe FoeLive electronic dance for the 21st century
 Pete MolinariHis music and live performance is ‘A triumph of content over form’. He is the real thing
 The MootA pop, rock, soul, blues, folk, country, funk band… mail order CDs
NNat JMDeconstructed pop, shambolic electro and punk to dance to… new EP
 Norman RecordsSlapping the thighs of melody
 Nathan BoddyNathan of Winding Road Records… more grooves than the most groovy thing on Earth
OThe OpenwaterAnother one of my musical favourites... all played by humans, more please
 Own Little WorldGigging and recording London guitar band trio… buy the CD
PPapa MofomanA variety of tracks and studio info from the fantastick… and MySpace
 The Physicists“Nasty, angry, punk, alternative, grunge…” they say—I say good hard rock
 The PhotographersExperimental gothic rock related in some way to Bunshop
 Plastic FuzzPlastic Fuzz is a collective group of musicians who make music for leisure purposes
 One Stop Shopclients: MTV, UKTI, Innovision, LDA, AIM, Acklam road, Sonic Egg, Mr Organic.
QQueep Organic MusicGlobal independent and unsigned music community
RTim RaineyStudio owner, engineer, musician, photographer… several CDs available from his site
 Alasdair ReidAladair Reid composes music for TV, advertising and other professional media
 Righteous BabeIndependent legend Ani DiFranco’s record label is more active than ever
 Paul Johnson RogersAudio branding and research for film, broadcast, stage and concert
 Royalty-Free.tvRoyalty free music, production music for TV
SThe Sad Song CoNigel Powell of The Unbelievable Truth - current solo project and intermittent pages
 Brett SawmyDrum tuition (Cardiff), collaborations, recording sessions, rich music biography
 Chris SaltAccomplished production and library music composer for Riffs
 Andrew ShearerAt The Water’s Edge (with guitarist Andrew Holdcroft) CD and downloads on ReverbNation and iTunes, etc.
 Sheffield Phonographic CorporationA dozen bands including Balor Knights, Champion Kickboxer and Chuck
 Shipyard LabelRecords from Shipyard studios including Martin Heslop himself
 Michelle ShockedIn the early 1990s, she famously escaped major-label indentured servitude, now running her own Mighty Sounds
 Situation NormalGrass-roots alternative to the commercialised mainstream music industry
 SlowBristol band Slow relaxed and thoughtful, on their own label Old Crow Music
 SongstuffCommunity site started by Scottish singer/songwriter and performer John Moxey
 Son Of BuffLegendary two-man power trio gigging around Essex and recording
 Sounds and ImagesSimon Fielder: music for picture, synthesizer and didgeridoo, CD or MP3
 Sounds UniqueKevin Osborne’s label for a variety of projects including a how-to-DIY blog.
 Ian Stewarttraditional and psychedelic folk, with ambient, Celtic, New Age and classical chamber music
 Stretch RecordsGuitar band The Dastards EP CD now available. Everybody loves a Dastard!
 Strangelight RecordsDuncan Patterson’s label for Antimatter, now with other artists
 Strawberry EmuPop, Rock, R&B, Country and Soul song-based vocal material for other artists
TTCRThe Control Room, contemporary music for dance
 Paul ThompsonUK-based composer writing and publishing for Film, TV, Studio Logos and Commercials
UUK Sound & LightingUK sound and lighting community
 Un! RecordingsIt started as a zine, then cassettes, CDs and now downloads on iTunes
 Urban Myth ClubThe Urban Myth Club have appeared mysteriously but are spreading spontaneously
 Urban VoiceCommunity DIY… young artist development programme
VVanity RecordsThe indie label for Mr Love & Justice with 3 CDs on CD Baby.
WWarren SuicideEnigmatic artist site with unusually good Flash
 Winding Road RecordsSchmoov!, Nathan Boddy, X-houz, and Brix N Mortar (and a cool site)
 Wired RecordsRun in partnership by REMIX and Gloucester City Council
XXylophone Yacht Zombies…come together rarely to perform material mostly created in the early eighties by Mad Acid Enterprise
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ZZingg RecordsOnline purveyors of perfect pop and fine independent music of all styles

If you’d like to replace my write-up with your own (a dozen words or so) please email.

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