An Interview with Gibby Miller and Ryan Martin of Dais Records
1. You started Dais Records with Ryan Martin in 2007. Can you tell me what made you decide to start the label and provide some of the back story to how you got started?
Ryan and I met in the early aughts in NYC. After I moved to LA in 2005, we kept in touch through care packages and phone calls, and often discussed records we'd love to see repressed. Ryan began working for Genesis P-Orridge around the same time, and when he stumbled across the original tape and acetate for Thee Early Worm record (an early experimental project of Genesis and friends that pre-dated Coum Transmissions and Throbbing Gristle), we decided to launch a label and make that our first release, with Gen's enthusiastic blessing!
2. The music industry today tends to focus more on singles and the latest breaking talent, whereas Dais Records focuses on both emerging acts and older lost or more rare recordings. Can you provide some insight on what made you decide to focus on both?
As collectors, we love the process of discovery, research, restoration, and the joy of correspondence with artists we admire. There are a lot of incredible records out there that are revered for their music but are largely unavailable due to scarcity or obscurity. We enjoy making these available to a new, wider audience, and we find that many of the modern bands we work with align in sound and concept with some of our archival reissue projects. We also spend a significant amount of time and energy hitting up shows, and seeking out new artists. As a label, we are genre agnostic and don't stand in one place for very long.
3. Aside from its focus, what do you think makes Dais Records different than other labels?
Labels are defined by their roster and catalog in the way that they curate the music they release. Dais only releases music that we both fully love and admire, and our main goal is to create releases that we ourselves would like to own, play, and have on our shelves. If people enjoy what we're doing, that's a bonus!
4. The relationship between a label and its artists is extremely important. What do you think is the most critical aspect of that relationship?
Trust and communication. Staying helpful and listening. We pride ourselves on an extremely communicative and transparent relationship with our artists. From our initial agreement, and through recording, creative, design and manufacturing, we are extremely hands on and allow our artists to have creative control. I'd like to say that we run a fairly tight ship with regard to timelines and expectations, and have a fairly developed process around getting things done. Sometimes that level of order can be a pain in the ass but more often than not I think it works well to have a structure in place, where expectations are managed and there's a clear path forward.
5. In your experience, what is the best way to find new talent?
Recommendations from friends, college radio, top tens from writers and other artists, going to shows, bandcamp recommendations, etc!
6. High Vis is a Dais Records band that has really been picking up momentum. How do you feel about the response to them so far after touring the US? Do you approach releasing music of bands from other regions differently than those from the US?
Love them. They're a great example of a band who (on top of being phenomenal songwriters) puts in the work and hits the road. They've done so well in the US and continue to grow. Two successful runs so far and another one coming up in the midwest and south. Our approach to working with bands outside of the US, such as Kite, Space Afrika, High Vis, or Private World, isn't too different from our US band strategy: we have international distribution and we tend to work with publicists worldwide for all projects. We always like to get a strong understanding of the bands' goals in their own region, where they succeed and where we can help them grow.
7. Dais Records has been able to accomplish quite a bit over the last 16 years. Can you tell me some of the accomplishments you're most proud of?
Staying in business, growing year over year, making a ton of friends along the way and collaborating with artists that we are fans of, which is the greatest benefit of all.
8. You have several synth/new wave/electronic bands on your roster. Is this a favorite genre of yours? Did you grow up influenced by any new wave, goth or industrial bands?
It would be tough for us to pick a favorite genre. It's certainly some of what we listen to. Ryan and I (Gibby) both grew up listening to an extremely diverse collection of music: punk, experimental, noise, rap, industrial, jazz, rock, pop, new wave, synthpop, etc. Our label is a reflection of what we love and find interesting and not tethered to any specific sound. We find that all of the artists on our label can be appreciated, with a connecting thread despite sonic differences or genres.
9. What bands or artists are you currently listening to?
GIBBY: As of August 2023 I'm listening to a ton of Paranoid London, Potter Payper and Pat Earrings courtesy of Graham Sayle from High Vis turning me onto it. Love the new Galcher Lustwerk. Stoked for the new Spiritual Cramp. Also listening to Launder a lot recently, Imaginary Softwoods, Gigi Masin, Clark. Troy Pierce is supposedly back in the studio working on music so Im excited to see what's next. I'm all over the place.
RYAN : I have been listening to new releases by Lucrecia Dalt, The Tubs, Travis Scott, Lawrence English & Loscil collab...the new album with Kali Malone, Stephen O'Malley & Lucy Railton is on almost daily repeat for me since it came out.
10. Is there anything else you're currently working on you'd like listeners to know about?
Deb Demure and Mona D from Drab Majesty are in the studio. So is Cold Gawd... Excited to see whats next from them. We're currently working on new brand collaborations with some amazing partners so excited to announce more about that soon. Enjoying the summer and trying to stay cool. Thanks for the interview!