My Old Kentucky Blog Interview of Stanley Donwood

by My Old Kentucky Blog on Mon, 2008/12/15 - 8:25pm Post to Twitter

Perhaps one of music’s most innovative visual artists, Stanley Donwood has made a name for himself by being Radiohead’s go-to guy for their album art and design. Back in December of 2006, however, Donwood poured some wine and, much to his own surprise, awoke the next day to find that he had started a record label as a hobby on the side. Two years later and after many trials and tribulations, ("I had done some calculations and discovered that the entire enterprise was actually guaranteed to lose money.") Six Inch Records is launched, consisting of three records by three different recording artists picked by the man himself; Patrick Bell, Max de Mara, and The Joy of Living. Donwood was generous enough to answer some questions via e-mail, where we discuss the label, his Grammy nomination for the In Rainbows disc box, and irrational e-mail prevention.

MOKB : Hi Stanley, how are you? Where exactly are you responding from?

Stanley Donwood : I’m alright, thanks. Exactly where I’m responding from is my kitchen table, hub of the Six Inch Records business empire. And I have a large mug of tea (with sugar).

MOKB : As the story goes, it was around this time in 2006 that you tipped a few too many glasses of red wine and awoke the next day to find that you had e-mailed three artists whose music you enjoyed and started a record label to put their music out on. Aside from the hangover, how did you feel the next day? Were you happy with what you had unknowingly done?

Read the rest of the interview AFTER THE JUMP…

Donwood : I was a bit shocked. I mean, it wasn’t the first stupid thing I’d done (or said) whilst drunk, and I suppose I thought that no-one would take me seriously. There’s a thing called Mail Goggles that saves late night emails until the morning, when you can check whether or not you were emailing, um, irrationally. Needless to say; I don’t have that bit of software. I should, though.

MOKB : Had you thought previously about starting a label or was the wine just that good?

Donwood : No, I’d not considered it at all. Really, this is a bad time to be starting a record label. Or is it?

MOKB : It took two years before these releases saw the light of day, but you obviously weren’t just sitting on your hands during that time. Did your work with the label ever cause you any strain as you worked on the art for In Rainbows?

Donwood : Not at all. Being CEO of a record company was just a hobby. A spare time thing, like building models of the Empire State Building with matchsticks, or birdwatching. I was working on a series of large etchings and some paintings too, which almost got in the way of the In Rainbows work, but in a strange way each project seems to help the others. The packaging for Six Inch Records influenced the packaging for In Rainbows, and the etchings I used for the artwork for the singles from In Rainbows.

MOKB : What can you tell us about the artists you signed? What was it about their music that stuck out and made them your first choices?

Donwood : I don’t know anything about music. I like some noises more than others; crows rather than seagulls, motorcycles rather than circular saws. I had already heard Patrick Bell’s ‘Travel Notes’, as I had been lucky enough to have been sent one of twelve cassettes he made. Patrick lives in a derelict crofter’s cottage on the Orkney Isles and has renounced the modern world. He got sacked from his job for refusing to be paid. I’ve no idea how he survives up there. And I’d been sent a 10" vinyl record of The Joy of Living’s ‘The Beyond Within’, which was also a limited release. I met The Joy of Living years and years ago, when they were well known for swearing at punk bands who they thought weren’t very good. They have, however, mellowed considerably. I kind of knew that Mara Carlyle and Max de Wardener (Max de Mara) would make some beautiful noises too. I’d met them a while ago when they were on Matthew Herbert’s Accidental label, along with another bloke I know called John Matthias. He’s just won an award for music so fiendishly conceived that I don’t understand it at all.

MOKB : According to the Six Inch Records website, it is clearly stated that there will only ever be three releases on the label. What is your reasoning for not wanting to continue with it? Could anything happen to make you change your mind?

Donwood : I thought it was a stupid idea. It was incredibly labour-intensive, time consuming, expensive and unjustifiable in any financial sense whatsoever. And I like the idea of 333 copies of 3 records, retailing at £6.66, sized six inches square. I tried to get the launch night for the 12/12, but London’s kind of busy in December, what with zmas and everything. I won’t change my mind about Six Inch Records, but the idea of vinyl 7" records and flac downloads is quite appealing. It wouldn’t be for a while though, not until I’ve forgotten how much work it is.

MOKB : Now that you’ve had the experience, do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking about starting a new label of their own? Perhaps some do’s and don’ts? Rewarding aspects?

Donwood : No advice. If you want to do it, just do it. However you want.

MOKB : Congratulations are in order for your recent Grammy nomination for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for In Rainbows. Now that you know you can win (and deservedly so), and with Radiohead up for so many awards, do you think we might be seeing you and Thom strutting down the red carpet again for the ceremony in February?

Donwood : Ha ha. I’m quite shy and that was fucking terrifying.

MOKB: What does winning a Grammy or being nominated mean to you? You could probably answer this question by simply telling us where you keep the Grammy you won for your work on Amnesiac.

Donwood : Well, it’s a big deal and for most people I’m sure it’s a fantastic experience. But I’m terrible at receiving compliments, horribly prone to a ridiculous level of false modesty and really pretty inept in social situations. So for me an awards ceremony is a sort of ordeal. I think of Hieronymus Bosch’s paintings, if you know what I mean. The Grammy I have is not on display, in case anyone sees it.

MOKB: Looking back on 2008, were there any records released that stood out for you? Any album covers or artwork that you found particularly inspiring or worth mentioning?

Donwood : Actually this year I’ve been mostly listening to shellac 78s on a turntable in my studio. I’ve been lent a fantastic version of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. And a lot of drum + bass. And Johnny Cash.

MOKB : Do you have any specific ideas in mind regarding future work with Radiohead? Have you been sitting in on any sessions with the band lately to begin that creative process?

Donwood : It’s too early to say.

MOKB : Do you currently have any other projects in the works that you can discuss? Secrets you can reveal?

Donwood : I’m going to start painting again in the new year. I’ve decided not to do any exhibitions until 2010, so I’m working till then on new ideas.

MOKB: Finally, do you have any big holiday plans? Traditions? Will you be drinking any red wine this month? And if so, what might we expect to see from you in 2010?

Donwood: There will be red wine. There will be stupid ideas. I still don’t have that Mail Goggles thing. Who can say?

There will be a Six Inch Records launch night in London on January 30th, with live performances by Max de Mara and The Joy of Living. Read more about the launch and purchase tickets here or here.