Deltasonic
Encyclopedia
Deltasonic is an English
record label
based in Liverpool
, England
. Previously joint ventured with Sony Music, it is now totally independent. It was formed by Alan Wills
, the former drummer with Liverpool bands Shack
and Top.
, so Delta, and Sonic is from Sonic Youth
, just the coolest band name ever."
The discovery of The Coral gave Wills the impetus to bring his idea of a new guitar-band label to life by starting Deltasonic. Wills told HitQuarters
that: "It was always the aim to release them through Deltasonic, and it was always their aim to be on Deltasonic ... Most people wouldn't have understood the Coral at that point."
The label originally had a joint venture deal with Sony, with the major record company owning 49% of Deltasonic and using its network to distribute and market it releases worldwide. The partnership was a gamble for Sony that was motivated by chairman Rob Stringer
and president Muff Winwood
's love of the label's roster, and their belief that guitar music was on the rise.
The first single released was by The Coral
. Other bands later signed to the label include the Zutons
, The Dead 60's, The Little Flames
, The Rascals
, The Basement Candie Payne
, and their first long-term signing from outside of Liverpool, The Longcut
followed by The Suzukis.
Deltasonic is also a publishing company, and had success in 2009 with Miles Kane
, and The Last Shadow Puppets
#1 album, The Age of the Understatement
.
As a fully independent record label, Deltasonic's first album release for 2010 is by The Suzukis.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Previously joint ventured with Sony Music, it is now totally independent. It was formed by Alan Wills
Alan Wills
Alan Wills is an athlete from the United Kingdom. He competes in archery.-2008 Summer Olympics:Wills represented Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the Archery at the 2008 Summer Olympics, competing in the men's individual and team archery. He finished his ranking round with a total of...
, the former drummer with Liverpool bands Shack
Shack (band)
Shack are an English band formed in Liverpool in 1987. Originally Shack consisted of Mick Head , his brother John Head , Justin Smith and Mick Hurst.-The Pale Fountains:...
and Top.
History
Aiming to be like Mo'Wax, Wills started his first label EVA in January 2000, primarily to release material by Joe Fearon aka Paracruzar. However, after three promo-only releases on clear 10-inch vinyl, he decided to move on to new areas and, with the help of his partner Ann Heston and consultancy from Simon Duffy (Tri Tone), he started a new label called Deltasonic Records. The name is an amalgamation of two ideas, as Wills explains: "I predominantly wanted it to be a guitar label and the guitars we liked are rooted in the BluesBlues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, so Delta, and Sonic is from Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, just the coolest band name ever."
The discovery of The Coral gave Wills the impetus to bring his idea of a new guitar-band label to life by starting Deltasonic. Wills told HitQuarters
HitQuarters
HitQuarters is an international music industry publication and contact database founded in 1999. It is noted for in-depth interviews with industry figures, with past subjects including Simon Cowell, Martin Kierszenbaum, Jason Flom, Diane Warren, Peter Edge, Ron Fair and RedOne, as well as its A&R...
that: "It was always the aim to release them through Deltasonic, and it was always their aim to be on Deltasonic ... Most people wouldn't have understood the Coral at that point."
The label originally had a joint venture deal with Sony, with the major record company owning 49% of Deltasonic and using its network to distribute and market it releases worldwide. The partnership was a gamble for Sony that was motivated by chairman Rob Stringer
Rob Stringer
Rob Stringer is Chairman of the Columbia Records, which is part of Sony Music Entertainment.He is the younger brother of Sir Howard Stringer, who is Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation.-References:...
and president Muff Winwood
Muff Winwood
Mervyn "Muff" Winwood is an English songwriter and record producer, and the older brother of Steve Winwood. Both were formerly members of the Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, in which Muff Winwood played bass guitar...
's love of the label's roster, and their belief that guitar music was on the rise.
The first single released was by The Coral
The Coral
The Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
. Other bands later signed to the label include the Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
, The Dead 60's, The Little Flames
The Little Flames
The Little Flames were an indie rock band from Hoylake, England. The band consisted of Eva Petersen , Greg Mighall , Joe Edwards , Miles Kane and Mat Gregory . Their music can best be described as indie rock with some 1960s inspiration, slightly similar to The Coral...
, The Rascals
The Rascals (English band)
The Rascals were an indie rock band from the Hoylake, England. Consisting of Joe Edwards and Greg Mighall .Both members were previous members of now-defunct indie band The Little Flames....
, The Basement Candie Payne
Candie Payne
Candice "Candie" Payne is an English singer and songwriter from Liverpool. She released her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, on Deltasonic in May 2007. She is the sister of singer/songwriter Howie Payne, former frontman of band The Stands and Sean Payne, the drummer of The...
, and their first long-term signing from outside of Liverpool, The Longcut
The Longcut
-Members:* Stuart Ogilvie - vocals, keyboard, drums* Lee Gale - guitar* Jon Fearon - bass-Career:The Longcut formed in Manchester in 2002, while attending the University of Manchester. Originally a four-piece, their vocalist left soon after the band started and the remaining members intended to...
followed by The Suzukis.
Deltasonic is also a publishing company, and had success in 2009 with Miles Kane
Miles Kane
Miles Peter Kane is an English musician originally from Meols on the Wirral near Liverpool, best known as the co-frontman of The Last Shadow Puppets and former frontman of The Rascals...
, and The Last Shadow Puppets
The Last Shadow Puppets
The Last Shadow Puppets is a band consisting of Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, Miles Kane formerly of The Rascals, and composer/producer James Ford.-Formation:...
#1 album, The Age of the Understatement
The Age of the Understatement
Different versions of the album list the last two tracks in a different manner. Catalog number WIGCD208 lists track #11 and #12 as "The Meeting Place" and "Time Has Come Again" respectively while catalog number WIGCD208S lists them as "Meeting Place" and "The Time Has Come...
.
As a fully independent record label, Deltasonic's first album release for 2010 is by The Suzukis.
Artists
- Danny Connors
- The Basement
- The Dead 60sThe Dead 60sThe Dead 60s were an English ska punk band from Liverpool. The band's sound is a mixture of punk rock, ska, dub and reggae. They have taken influences from artists such as King Tubby, Jackie Mittoo, Gang of Four and A Certain Ratio.-Band members:...
- Candie PayneCandie PayneCandice "Candie" Payne is an English singer and songwriter from Liverpool. She released her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, on Deltasonic in May 2007. She is the sister of singer/songwriter Howie Payne, former frontman of band The Stands and Sean Payne, the drummer of The...
- The CoralThe CoralThe Coral are an English band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral Peninsula in England. The band first emerged during the early 2000s and found success with their debut album The Coral and follow up Magic and Medicine...
- The Little FlamesThe Little FlamesThe Little Flames were an indie rock band from Hoylake, England. The band consisted of Eva Petersen , Greg Mighall , Joe Edwards , Miles Kane and Mat Gregory . Their music can best be described as indie rock with some 1960s inspiration, slightly similar to The Coral...
- The LongcutThe Longcut-Members:* Stuart Ogilvie - vocals, keyboard, drums* Lee Gale - guitar* Jon Fearon - bass-Career:The Longcut formed in Manchester in 2002, while attending the University of Manchester. Originally a four-piece, their vocalist left soon after the band started and the remaining members intended to...
- The RascalsThe Rascals (English band)The Rascals were an indie rock band from the Hoylake, England. Consisting of Joe Edwards and Greg Mighall .Both members were previous members of now-defunct indie band The Little Flames....
- The Sand Band
- The Suzukis
- The Tigerpicks
- The ZutonsThe ZutonsThe Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
- The Dirty Rivers