Deathbomb Arc

Deathbomb Arc
Founded1998 (1998)
FounderBrian Miller
Leroy Brown
GenreExperimental
Various
Country of origin U.S.
LocationPhiladelphia, PA
Official websitewww.deathbombarc.com

Deathbomb Arc is an independent record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US. It was started in 1998 by Brian Miller in Los Angeles, California, originally to release music by the band Turbine.[1] Miller's cat Leroy Brown was the label's acting CEO[2] until his death in 2014.

Miller has described the label's ethos as a "'fuck you' attitude towards a music industry that is afraid of new ideas"[1] and as "a window into another universe... for those of us with an ear to new sounds, we're already in that other universe, but I want to reach people who normally have to wait years before an 'experimental' act is deemed normal enough for them."[2] He characterises Deathbomb Arc as an "artist label" as well as a record label, treating record releases as just one part of an artistic spectrum. As an example, he cites Clipping as a Deathbomb Arc act, despite the group self-releasing their first album.[2] According to Clipping's William Hutson, "The modus operandi of Deathbomb is punk as a way of being in the world, and not a type of music."[3]

Their website explains that "our criteria for putting out bands is inexplicable" and not constrained by genres. The label has released a wide range of styles including breakcore, noise rock, witch house, new age,[1] hip hop,[4] ambient, punk and techno.[5] Notable releases include the first material from Clipping, JPEGMafia, Death Grips[6] and Julia Holter.[2]

Deathbomb Arc ran a digital singles club in 2011 and 2012, releasing a single each week by a wide variety of artists.[7]

  1. ^ a b c Manchester, Guy (19 September 2011). "Interview With Brian Miller Of Deathbomb Arc About The Second Year Of Their Singles Club". Louder Than War. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Jones, Daniel (18 March 2012). "The Beast Goes On: an interview with Foot Village's Brian Miller". Electronic Beats. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  3. ^ Jewell, Sean (10 February 2014). "No Genre, No Authenticity, No Problem: An Interview With LA Label Deathbomb Arc". tumblr.com/deathbomb. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  4. ^ Cummings, Raymond (April 2014). "Label profile: Deathbomb Arc". Magnet. Alex Mulcahy.
  5. ^ Masteller, Ryan (6 August 2012). "Interview: Deathbomb Arc's Brian Miller". Critical Masses. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Deathbomb Digital Singles Club Year 1 (Part 2/2)". Bandcamp. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  7. ^ Pelly, Jenn (30 November 2011). "News in Brief: Rock for Kids, Deathbomb Arc, Keepaway, Trans Musicales Fest". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 July 2014.