From 1995 Scratchie Records deals with an wide variety of musical styles: world music, rap, indie rock, techno. The Chicago label, started by D'Arcy Wretzky and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins, has been manifesting itself internationally lately. Scratchie is clearly different from other labels, it refuses to restrict itself to a genre. Rocksound [the name of the magazine - xera] talked to D'Arcy and Jeremy Freeman, Scratchie's manager, about their passion for music, the necessity of nonconfirmation and the good side of diversity.
Above all, D'arcy Wretzky, bassplayer of the Smashing Pumpkins, is a lover of music in general. That is why she founded the scratchie label together with James Iha. She gives additional information about her voluntary service to alternative music.
How would you describe your job at Scratchie Records?
That is a difficult question to start with. Let's just say that I am trying to find the right way between my job as vice-president - no really, that's what I am officially - and artistic manager. With the money we have, it would be easier to say that it won't make any difference. Everybody is working on lots of things at the same time. I bring two or three tapes, one of the others also brings a few tapes. After discussing it we might have one left. If we have enough money, we will give them a contract. If we don't have enough money, they have to wait for a while. That's how things go at Scratchie's. If important negotiations or if big decisions have to be made, then I get a little more involved. I simply don't have the time to be in charge on a daily basis. I'm here to guide the others and to sign the artists. With Scratchie I take care of the rock department. In a way I am Scratchie's big brother - I see everything!
A part of Scratchies fame seems to be based on the fact that it is the record label of D'arcy and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. Does that bother you?
I have never really asked myself that question, and I don't care. The only thing concerning Scratchie that really bothers me is that I don't have enough time to get involved and I really hate that. I like the way the label works, the bands that have been signed by Scratchie, but I simply don't have the time. Apart from the Smashing Pumpkins, I have never been involved with bands and I learn a lot from that. Some of them are incredibly talented.
Scratchie is a label with a great diversity of music. Are you to all those styles just as sensitive?
No, it is clear that I'm much more sensitive to rock music than the others. But even though I am not an expert in those other styles of music, I'm still fascinated by them. As a matter of fact, I am fascinated by everything about music but I will always understand rock best including the business side. I leave the rest to James, Jeremy and Adam Schlesinger of Ivy and Fountains of Wayne. When it comes to rock music, Adam is really good, but he also knows a lot about other styles of music. For me that is different, I only know about the music I like.
When it comes to business, can you take advantage of your experience as a Pumpkin?
Absolutely. It prevents Scratchie for big mistakes and losing time. One of the goals Scratchie had was to make sure that new bands can take advantage of an organization that knows the music industry well. We were very young and naive when we've just started with the Smashing Pumpkins, we knew absolutely nothing. Now I realise how much time we wasted. We really didn't know what to do, where to go, who to ask questions. We had to learn everything the hard way. Many record companies profit from the fact that artists don't know too much about the business. This was a thing that Scratchie had to do something about. We have always regarded the label as a step up the ladder, so they can easily get past problems and maybe sign with a major record company later. That is the ultimate goal of an artist who wants his music to be known worldwide.
Is Scratchie a way for you to show that you are more than just the bass player of the Smashing Pumpkins?
No, not at all. Again, I'm doing this because I'm interested in music. I am glad that the fame of the band has helped Scratchie. If people think that Scratchie is just a part of the Smashing Pumpkins - which it isn't - than it's up to us to show that the label is completely independent, that it has its own rules and its own strength. Scratchie exists without relying of the Smashing Pumpkins because that could turn against you. People expect more of us than they expect from other independent labels because we are connected with the Smashing Pumpkins in a certain way. The pressure is high and then I'm not even talking about the people who want us to fail. It may sound strange, but even in the independent music some people don't want you to leave the category they put you in.
When you founded Scratchie, did you also plan build a sort of family?
Yes, that had pretty much been our intention. But when we started, American music was not what it is now. Back then it was easier to lay certain bands onto people. The spirit and the structure were much more accessible. Now, the music is changing fast and the quality is low. I talked about it the other day with Cliff, the former manager of supergroups like Metallica and AC/DC, and he told me he didn't understand what was going on in the music industry these days. He has worked in the industry over twenty years but he doesn't understand it anymore. There is no control anymore, it has become very unstable. I get the impression that everything is falling apart.
What do you expect from Scratchie in an artistic sense? Is it going the same way as Grand Royal, the label of the Beastie Boys?
No, Grand Royal is mostly based on the Beastie Boys. We try to start a career from the artists. We are more like a launching pad for bands than a concept. Our main goal is to supply our bands with the means to live of their music. We don't want them to become models for Scratchie. We also want to convince radio stations that they should pay more attention to those bands, because with the current lack of good bands, people deserve to listen to good music. I don't want to make people think that is my vanity.
Scratchie Records
1914 North Milwaukee Av.
Chicago, Illinois
60647 USA
This article has been translated by xera. If you see any inconsistencies or typing errors (and you probably will), please tell me.