Scottish DIY Labels #9 - Instinctive Racoon Records

Would you care to introduce yourself?

Hello i'm Jamie Webster founding member of Instinctive Racoon i live in Partick. Instinctive Racoon consists of 3 main people- myself Creon Brock and Ben Soep, we all live in Partick.


What inspired you to start your own label?

I first saw Ross Clark perform at Oran Mor around 4 and 1/2 years ago and his powerful, confident and accomplished performance blew me away. After talking to him later to discover he was just turned 18, i was amazed. Ross and i kept in touch over the next few months and then we decided to start working together, the idea being i'd help him develop as a recording artist, touring artist and not just a mad Bankie (person from Clydebank) who was trying to take over Glasgow on his own! I guess the simple answer is Ross Clark inspired the label's inception.


Who do you have signed to your label?

We have released music for the following acts:- Ross Clark, Washington Irving, French Wives, Three Blind Wolves and Bear Bones. Being based in Scotland do you only sign Scottish artists? No, we have considered working with foreign acts, we aren't looking to pick up anymore just now though. Certainly in the future i think we might well work foreign acts, although we feel that it's very important for us to help and develop local talent first.

Three Blind Wolves - Emily Rose

Is this something you do as a hobby or can you make a living from it?

For now it's a hobby as we certainly aren't making any money, we feel it's more important to help the bands to survive, with touring, recording and rehearsal costs it is very hard, any money made goes straight back into the bands pot.


Do you have a certain type of sound that you look for in a band?

Not really, i guess there is a thin thread that perhaps ties our acts together but they are all different in their own ways, TBWs for instance are essentially a Country/ Blues Rock n Roll band. WI are more Indie/ Folk, FWs have a poppier edge Indie Pop i suppose, and Bear Bones are more rootsy folk pop. We help to promote other acts also who are not on our label but we book shows for them etc.. Acts such as Over The Wall and John Knox sex Club- and they have completely different sounds, but yet they work well on bills along with our acts.


How do you go about deciding which artists you want to work with? How do you go about approaching them?

We tend to book them in for gig's first get to know them a little and decide then if we/they could work together. Or essentially do they need our help, sometimes you might love a band but they don't need your help and that's fine, we never force ourselves onto acts. We only ever suggest perhaps we could be of service.

Washington Irving - Islands


What has been you personal highlight from running the label so far? What has been your biggest success?

Getting 3 bands on T in the Park bill this year was certainly the highlight, Muslim (Vic's producer) from BBC was really happy for us and explained that it's never happened before that 3 acts from 1 label have all got in. So to be making history at this early stage really feels like progress. Obviously we feel that all 3 acts Clearly merit their slot in their own right, but it was a very proud moment indeed.


If you could give one piece of advice to someone wanting to start up their own label, what would it be and why?

Go for what you believe in, push music that you really love and don't be afraid to ask people for advise, you'll find 3 types of people in this industry- helpful, folk that don't know what their doing, or people who will steal your ideas and try to jump ahead of you at every step. Best advise it could give is keep your cards close to your chest and do plenty of listening, i never trust a man who talks too much.

French Wives - Big Brave Boy

What can we expect to see and hear from the label in the future?

Can't expect me to give too much away after the last question, however both TBW and FW will be in the studio over the next few months recording, and Washington Irving are playing their first English shows very soon, so watch this space.

Myspace