SPACE BUNNY RECORDS
“Tunes for intergalactic dance floors” – meet Space Bunny Records, launching from Liverpool to beyond, with Alien Izz at the controls. Blasting onto the electronic music scene in July 2023 with Alien Izz’s debut EP, ‘Alien Spectrum Disorder’, the label champions anything from fizzing acid and brain-tingling electro, through to ambient breakbeats and atmospheric soundscapes.
Alien Izz herself is a legend in the game, building a steady following over the past few years through DJing, producing and hosting radio. Part of the incredible Sisu crew roster, Alien Izz’s talent and ambition has also earned her festival DJ slots at Hideout, Gottwood and Baltic Weekender, as well as supporting the likes of Interplanetary Criminal, Nite Fleit and X Club.
Most recently partnering with local record store Dig Vinyl, Space Bunny Records is kicking off a limited vinyl run series this Spring. Spotlighting artists with ties to the North West, each mini run of 20 vinyl will be available to buy in-store, starting with the latest label release – Scott Artex’s ‘The Count / Return to Albion’. Hurry though, there’s only 10 physical copies left!
Hi Izzy! How was Space Bunny Records born?
I think it came initially from wanting to release my own music and to be heavily involved in the creative and logistical process of doing so. I was writing my first EP in spring 2023 and had just left a collective I was with for almost a year (where previously I thought the record might find a home), so for a while my aim was just to self-release.
I toyed with the idea of starting a label alongside this release for months. It felt a little daunting, and outside of my knowledge of production, I was very new to the processes of distribution, PR and publishing. Even before releasing other people’s music, there was a lot to learn and a lot to be decided on in terms of the brand and ethos.
Eventually, I decided it was worth taking the risk and I spent the next couple of months researching, commissioning the logo and coming up with the name. My whole artistry is outta-space-related so I knew it was going to be something cosmic sounding, then my greatest love in life is animals so I tried to tie the two together. Cosmic Hogs was a strong contender (I love pigs too), but sat in the Red Lion pub across from my mates Danny and Alex, ‘Space Bunny’ was floated and immediately resonated.
As Space Bunny was launched, I was very aware of this not being solely a vanity project. I always kept in my mind advice given by Bradley Zero in an amazing YouTube talk on his label ‘Rhythm Section’ – that your motivation and love should be to share music you believe in. Everything else about money, exposure, etc… comes secondary. I felt at once that there was no pressure for the label to be a ‘success’, but there was now this incredible opportunity to work with other people and share their music. That’s kind of what’s been happening since.
What are the main ethoses behind the label?
Musically, Space Bunny Records is set to champion underground electronic music. Anything a raving alien might listen to out in space. There’s a lot of scope for cosmic sounding genres like electro and acid, and a nod to more leftfield soundscapes, but no strict genre limitations per se. I hope that over time we’re able to bring out some great club stompers you can’t not dance to. At the end of the day, you want people to feel and have fun.
As it was founded in Liverpool, another key ethos has been to showcase North West up-and-coming artists. On our first VA, for 5 of the 6 artists, it was their first release on a label, and two of these artists I’ve since taken on for a limited run of dubplate releases this spring. Everyone I met with for a coffee or drink beforehand and I try to keep lines of communication as clear and artist-led as possible.
There will certainly be upcoming releases from outside the North West, and possibly across the world, but I think the label will always have a home here.
Has starting your own label changed the way you think about music in any way? Either as a producer or a consumer?
It’s made me a lot more comfortable in just producing what I want to make, without any outside expectations. A small label might not give you all the exposure and praise in the world, but you still have those very personal interactions and relationships with people stemming from the records, and I think this is so precious. One of our biggest listeners on the debut EP has since produced for us twice in the space of a year; you can’t put a price on these genuine connections and stories which stem organically from anything you do creatively.
I suppose as a consumer I’ve got a whole new level of appreciation for people running labels and the work and costs that go on behind the scenes. It’s not an easy operation, I’m in awe and admiration of underground dance labels which have been going strong for years and continuously bring out the best new music.
Who would be your dream artist to release?
This feels like a manifestation question, it would be nice to check-in in 10 years and see if anything comes true! Based on recent releases: LUXE, Jay Carder, Spray, Papa Nugs, Cromby, Adam Pits, Lisene and ABSOLUTE, although there’s so many dream artists I can’t pick just one. I’ve already been extremely lucky to have Dowd on the VA, and am equally hyped to welcome another dear friend and talented producer later this year…
Do you have any advice for fellow people looking to start their own label?
I think firstly you should have a good idea of the kind of sounds you want to put out and what you want to represent, or bring to the scene, which you don’t currently see or can’t access. Second to this, be willing to invest your time and energy and possibly lose money, and still be happy and proud of what you accomplish. Measure ‘success’ by your own metrics.
Thirdly, and maybe most importantly, learn and fail. I’ve made so many mistakes or done so many things I wouldn’t have in retrospect, and there’s not really a right or wrong way to go about running a label. As difficult as I find this myself, go with the flow and learn on the job.
What else do you have planned for 2024?
We have another 2 limited edition vinyl runs coming very soon, featuring cosmic deep house and electro from Banjaxed and Jovak! There’s also an EP in the works from one of my good friends and a few singles making their way to the catalog. Possibly come Q3 another VA, keep your eyes and ears peeled…
Written by Kate Hazeldine
