Luaka Bop

Luaka Bop
Founded1988 (1988)
FounderDavid Byrne
Distributor(s)
GenreRock, pop, jazz, bubu, soul, funk, folk, psychedelic, world music
Country of originUnited States
LocationNew York City
Official websitewww.luakabop.com

Luaka Bop is a New York–based record label founded by musician David Byrne, former lead singer and guitarist for the art rock–new wave band Talking Heads.[1] What began with Byrne making cassettes of his favorite Tropicália tracks for his friends became a full-fledged record label in 1988 after Byrne received a solo artist deal from Warner Bros.

Since then, Luaka Bop has developed into a label known for bringing eclectic music to new audiences. Though initially affiliated with Warner Bros, Luaka Bop has been wholly independent since 2006. Often categorized as a “world music” label, Luaka Bop considers its own music to be mostly contemporary pop.[2]

Luaka Bop has released full-length albums, EPs, and singles from artists such as Alice Coltrane, William Onyeabor, and Floating Points, as well as compilations covering a wide range of musical movements and styles. The label’s maiden release eventually became the seven-album Brazil Classics series, which surveys genres from samba to Tropicália, as well as individual artists. This was the first of a number of region- or genre-specific compilation series released by Luaka Bop.

Luaka Bop’s releases have frequently been well received by critics,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] with both compilations and releases of individual artists regularly featuring in best-of-year lists.[11][12] The label has been highlighted for its “singular ability to (re)discover, celebrate, and legitimize the otherwise low-profile work of some of the world’s more eccentric musical figures.”[1]

  1. ^ a b "Luaka Bop: An Introduction". daily.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Luaka Bop". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  4. ^ Knight-Ridder/Tribune, Fernando Gonzalez. "LUAKA BOP MAKES ITS IMPRINT". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  5. ^ "Yale Evelev, Luaka Bop". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  6. ^ "William Onyeabor: Box Set". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  7. ^ "Various Artists: The Time for Peace Is Now". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  8. ^ "Alice Coltrane: World Spirituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  9. ^ "William Onyeabor: Who Is William Onyeabor?". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  10. ^ "David Byrne's Luaka Bop label is releasing a compilation of "secular gospel" from the 1970s, with liner notes by Jonathan Lethem". Boing Boing. 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  11. ^ "The 30 best reissues and retrospectives of 2017". The Vinyl Factory. 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  12. ^ Spice, Anton (2013-12-13). "The Top 100 vinyl releases of 2013: 20-1". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 2020-08-25.