I happen to come across a band one day on Cnet and was taken back by the pure sound they emilated. The band was Porphyrais Lover. I quickly wanted to hear more of the band and clicked the website. To my surprise I found even more bands that carried a ambient and even early Goth/New Wave sound. They were all released on a small label called Nimh Records. I wanted to know more about the label and how to get hold of the full albums. So, I set up and interview and found out a little more. Just enough to quench my taste buds....
Please give a brief history of how Nimh came about and where you came up with the name.
The seed was planted in 1987 after reading the liner of Husker Du’s warehouse song and stories… I wanted to make music for anyone and everyone to hear… small labels were popping up here and there so I figured I would take my Fostex 4-Track and start my own as well…
Problem was I never had much money or any real way to get the music out there… then came the Internet… I’m not much for technology… but it
seemed the right thing to do… I am slowly building a studio… grabbing talent when I can… and there you go… instant music… instant label… instant oatmeal… I guess since I’m not in it for money it makes things easier… the name… well… it is from a children’s novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien… one of the finest novels
written… sure you’ve seen the movie… but the book is so much better…
What have been some of your influences music wise?
Mainly late 70’s early 80’s Punk and D-Rock… you have the greats Joy Division, Siouxsie and Banshees, The Damned, The Misfits, Husker Du,
GBH, Iggy and the Stooges, Bauhaus, the list goes on… Then there are the ethereal bands of the early 4AD era… The Cocteau Twins, Dead Can
Dance, Shallow, The Glee Club… some Pixies, Throwing Muses, Galaxy 500, Cranes… How about some new stuff like Eisley, Interpol, etc… the list
goes on and on… I really dig the new Loretta Lynn music as well… go figure… and then there is good old Getz/Gilberto and the Verve label…
Do you feel this music reflects in the type of bands you put on your label?
For the most part… it is what I like to listen to… the main aspect that I look for is creativity… I am often one to argue that American musical creativity died with the Pixies… Grunge was just a rehash of Jimi Hendrix… The Electronic/Rock/Rap Hybrid reminds me of Depeche Mode on steroids… we keep running in circles like some old blind dog who likes to smell his butt… too many people want to press out that cookie cutter sound so money can be made… where are the days when contracts were
signed on napkins… where is the passion lost to stadium seating… enough
of that…
A lot of your music sounds ambient and retro '80's Goth sound. Do you feel your label leans more towards a Goth label or do you prefer to
be not labelled?
That’s a good thing… one who believes him or herself to be a nonconformist is conforming to nonconformity… its not such a bad label…
misery is a great emotion that everyone goes through in different times of their lives… it is something we can all relate to… call it Goth (I
prefer D-Rock there’s more anger in it) as long as someone is listening…
Is there anyway someone could purchase these albums or download
more from them?
Right now there are several MP3’s at:
nimhrecords.home.comcast.net/nimhrecords.html and music.download.com
or you can email me at and I could send you something…
I see many of the same people in the different bands. Are most of these people close friends?
Most of them are… people I have worked with in the past… hopefully there will be more to come in the future… new talent… new perspective…
new fun…
Do any of the groups work under other record labels or have any side projects?
It seems that most have dropped out of the music scene completely… or maybe they just are not talking to me anymore… many live in different
states… some tend to disappear… so they might be… I kind of feel that we are all just one big wicked side project… or something like that…
What is the present status of Nimh Records and what direction do you want to carry it to?
As funny as it might seem… I began nimh records as a way to get my music out there for free… that’s right… this is truly a non capitalistic venture… because of that nimh records is growing slowly… and will continue to do so… It is a work in progress… I am slowly building a studio piece by piece literally… and someday hope to help some unknown bands record the way they want to without having to pay someone who doesn’t care about their music… then let them run with it…
sounds like fun doesn’t it…
Do you have any political views about the war, the economy, etc?
Not really… I think it is important to have views… but unless you are a political sort of band… the R.E.M. sort… it’s best to keep the two
separate… music is passion in itself… no need to muddle it up with the problems or solutions of the world…
Do you find it hard to run a record business as a family man?
They are very supportive of it all… my wife knows that I would go insane without it all… it is my outlet… my chance to be alone…
Finally, if you were a musical instrument, which one you be and why?
A bassoon or French horn… don’t know why really… maybe because the are really cool instruments that you seldom pay attention to… under the radar sorts… the moon pie of the confectionary world… the candy corn of sickness… now I’m just tired and in need of a good snack…
