Lovitt Records Interview

While most indie-labels can boast modest success at putting a dent in whatever movement is shaping music at any given time, the folks at Lovitt Records in Arlington, Virginia, and the dominant punk-reconstructionists on their roster, could likely boast giving the Midwest hardcore movement a facelift.  Have you ever heard of Milemarker, Frodus, Monorchid, Sleepy Time Trio, or Four Hundred Years?  These bands, in large part, spearheaded a brutal campaign that changed the direction of  hardcore in the mid-nineties.  The bands that round out the roster today, including Rah Brahs, Bats and Mice, Engine Down and Ben Davis, will likely change indie musical sensibilities way into the future. 

Below is a brief interview with Brian Lowit, who has devoted the last several years to bringing you the records that have changed the tide of post-punk past, present and future.

Interview conducted via e-mail, December 2001.

Name: Brian Patrick Lowit
Record Label: Lovitt Records 

Tim: How old are you?
Brian: I recently turned 27 years old.

T: How long has Lovitt Records been around?
B: Lovitt as a label started in late 1995 with the release of the Monorchid 7". Before it was a label, it was a small mail order/distro.

T: Where is Lovitt’s homebase?
B: We are based out of Arlington, Virginia. When the label started, it was based out of Greensboro, North Carolina.  I started the label while I was down there going to college. I am originally from the D.C. area so when I graduated, the label and I moved back to Arlington.

T: Does Lovitt have a philosophy or mantra that it goes by?
B: Lovitt is firmly committed to exploring a variety of genres while maintaining a no-nonsense, punk aesthetic.

T: Is Lovitt a full-time job?  How have/do you supplement putting out records?
B: Lovitt is way over a 40 hour work week for me so I would consider it a full-time job. I also have another full-time job but it is one that is extremely flexible and allows me to do the label at the same time. I have that job more for the benefits and I like to keep the money that the label makes in the label to put out more records instead of paying myself. The label makes a profit so other than my original investment (which I have not paid myself back for), it pays for itself.  There might be a day soon where I decide having the other job is too stressful and I just do the label but we shall see.

There are others who help the label run. Nathan Tsoi does all our in house press and Shelby Cinca helps out with graphics/web and we usually have an intern as well.

T: Have you ever been in a band?
B: I have personally never been in a band. Shelby Cinca, who was in Frodus, did half of the label for awhile. I just do not have the time to be in a band at the moment. I would love to one day, but I would first have to gain some musical skills.

T: How did your first record come about?
B: Our first record was the 7" by the D.C. band Monorchid. I had gone to seen some of the Monorchid first shows because I was a huge fan of some of the members previous bands like Circus Lupus. Around the same time, I was thinking about starting to release my own records instead of just selling others via my distro so I just called them up on the phone and asked them if they would be interested in doing a 7" with me.  They took a chance and said yes. Everything sort of took of from there.

T: What record are you most proud of?
B: That is a real tough question as I am proud of everything we have done(well almost everything), but all for different reasons so there really isn't one that I am most proud of.

T: Is there a Lovitt sound?
B: I do not think so. I think for a while, when Four Hundred Years, Sleepytime Trio and Frodus were all working with us and playing shows, one could argue that we were putting out bands with a similar sound.  We have put a pretty wide range of stuff. The Rah Bras and Jason Falkner for instance sound nothing like Engine Down or Bats and Mice. It is nice to mix things up.

T: How do you decide to work with a band and what do you do to support/promote them?
B: Basically if we like the music the bands produces and their members as people, we talk to them about doing something and it goes from there. We are real lucky in the fact that we have been able to work with a lot of the same people which makes things easier and more family like.

In terms of support/promote them, we do a variety of things that are determined on a release by release basis. We do press, radio, help with shows, some tour support, etc. We have pretty much tried it all. For a small label, we actually do a lot.

T: Have you ever toured with one of your bands?  Are there any stories from those adventures that you'd like to share?
B: I recently went to Europe for 3 weeks with Engine Down which was a blast. We were there on September 11th. It was really strange being in a different country so far away from home and not know if all your friends and loved ones were safe. 

I have gone on several little mini tours with other bands. I guess the one that was the most fun was with Frodus as it was the first time I went on one. It was over a Spring Break and they were touring with Jihad. The bands decided to get into a van war so every day and night we were pulling new stunts on each other. It got a little out of control at one point but it was a lot of fun.

T: Have you ever decided to discontinue a relationship with a band based on personality conflicts or differences in ethics?
B: Some times things just do not work out.

T: How did the arrangement with Jade Tree come about to re-issue the Milemarker Frigid Forms Sell album?
B: Without getting into too many details, it was decided that the record had run its course with us and it might be easier for Jade Tree to have it since they were now working with Milemarker. It was not an easy decision to make as that is a great record and one that I think we had a part in making successful. In the end, we deciding but selling the rights to Jade Tree would give us some money that we could put towards releasing some new exciting releases and free some of our time up that was spent on old ones.

It might seem odd to some that a record that is still not that old and was accessible to get re released but these things happen sometimes.

T: Do you think that the defunct bands that Lovitt has supported have left a legacy?  What is it?
B: Sure. Hard work, honesty, kick ass music. Also, all of our bands have involved super friendly fun people.

T: What does Lovitt plan for 2002?
B: In March, we have new full lengths from Engine Down and Bats and Mice coming out. Also in the spring, we plan on re-releasing the Max Colby discography CD (originally on Whirled Records which is now defunct) which will have some unreleased stuff. After that, we have a lot of tentative things but nothing concrete with release dates. 2002 should be a great year for us.