Interview with David Dickenson,

Founder of Suicide Squeeze Records

“Slaying since 1996,” the Seattle-based indie Suicide Squeeze Records is responsible for releases from Elliott Smith, Pedro the Lion and Modest Mouse, among many others, and has a healthy roster of artists including Minus the Bear and recent signees These Arms Are Snakes and Russian Circles and Past Lives. With last month’s release of sBACH’s self-titled album and Human Highway’s Moody Motorcycle, the forthcoming effort from These Arms Are Snakes and the re-launch of its 7-inch series earlier this year, Suicide Squeeze looks like it will be slaying into the next decade.

Q: What is the guiding philosophy behind Suicide Squeeze?

A: No compromises.

Q: How have you managed to stay afloat amidst declining record sales and rising gas prices?

A: I don’t take on more than I can handle. I carefully choose the music I release and then make as much happen around those releases as I can.

Q: Tell us more about the limited edition 7-inch series and your decision to continue it right in the midst of digital mania.

A: Hopefully it will expose curious listeners to new sounds and generate further interest in the label’s full-time roster. Most of the records in the series come with coupons for free mp3s. It’s a win/win situation. Vinyl sales keep increasing, especially over the past few months – it’s unbelievable.

Q: What role has the local music community played in the development and longevity of the label?

A: The community – the music fans, especially – have shown great support over the years. We wouldn’t be around, still releasing music if people didn’t want to hear it in some purchasable form.

Q: What qualities do you look for in the bands you sign?

A: I have to love the music and the band, both collectively and as individual people creating magic. There has to be a connection, a spark there – mutual interest is all important. I strive to establish long-standing work relationships with my bands, watch them evolve from album to album, make friends.

Q: Top five Suicide Squeeze releases?

A: Minus the Bear – Highly Refined Pirates. This was a breakthrough record for the band as well as the label. To see the growth between Bear’s debut EP and this album was incredible. The band writes fantastic songs and works harder than most any other act I know. They mean a lot to Suicide Squeeze.

Elliott Smith – Division Day. Elliott was one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. We feel extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him. Elliott has been and continues to be an inspiration.

Russian Circles – Station. Russian Circles is a new addition to the label and when I listen to their record, I get excited about the future of Suicide Squeeze. They took things to another level on this record and have captured the magic of what made me fall in love with them: their amazing live show!

The Aislers Set – How I Learned to Write Backwards. Amy Linton is a tremendously talented musician and such a beautiful person. The Aislers Set make perfect pop music. Why this band (and in particular this record) are still under the radar is beyond my comprehension.

Headphones – Headphones. We’ve been working with Dave Bazan via Pedro the Lion and his Christmas single collection off and on for the past eight years. This electronic record was built wholly from synthesizers (no guitars), live drums and features the type of lyrics you love and have come to expect from Dave. It’s a record that I think holds its own very interesting place in Bazan’s catalogue and will always feel special.

www.suicidesqueeze.net

IN THE NEWS

On September 23, Hardly Art will release the new album from Seattle’s The Pica Beats. Titled Beating Back the Claws of the Cold, this is the band’s sophomore album, marking the follow-up to 2007’s self-recorded/

released All Mysteries Solve Themselves.

www.hardlyart.com

Seattle post-punk avante-pop trio The Dead Science will release its 11th release (if you count loads of split 7-inchs) on September 2 via Montreal-based Constellation Records. Titled Villainaire, the 11-song disc will be released on both CD and 180-gram vinyl and features appearances from Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think), Katrina Ford (Celebration) and Morgan Henderson (Blood Brothers, Past Lives).

www.thedeadscience

.com

Common Market will release its second full-length effort, Tobacco Road, on September 9 via Massline Media. The release follows the duo’s recent EP, Black Patch War, and is sure to put the group in the top ranks of the Northwest’s burgeoning hip-hop scene. The duo, consisting of RA Scion and Sabzi, will celebrate the release with a hometown show at Neumo’s on September 11.

www.commonmarket

music.com

On September 23, K Records’ Karl Blau will release his latest indie-folk disc, Nature’s Got Away. The follow-up to 2006’s Beneath Waves was written on the road last year during Blau’s spring tour, during which he traveled to Japan, and recorded immediately upon his return at his own Dub Narcotic studio. The Anacortes-based artist plans to tour “at least” the Mid Atlantic, Midwest and West Coast in support of the new album, and is scheduled to play a handful of shows around the Northwest with Bodies of Water early this month.

www.myspace.com/

karlblau

Seattle’s Helms Alee turn out an aggressive, in-the-red brand of rock ‘n’ roll. Featuring members of These Arms Are Snakes and Your Enemies Friends, the trio just released a debut album, entitled Night Terror and produced by Matt Bayles, early last month on Hydra Head.

www.myspace.com/

helmsaleemusic

After rounding out a cross-country U.S. jaunt, The Pharmacy will cross the pond for a sizeable European tour that kicks off at ZXZW in Tilburg on September 21 and wraps in mid-October. The three-piece is supporting its latest release on Don’t Stop Believin’ Records, Choose Yr Own Adventure.

www.myspace.com/

pharmacy