Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile

Posted on the 05 August 2015 by George De Bruin @SndChaser

Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile: Introduction

Welcome to Netlabel Profiles, the show that explores some of the best and most diverse music on the internet today. On this episode of Netlabel Profiles we visit Bologna, Italy.

Bologna has a long history. The area around Bologna has been inhabited since the 9th Century, BC. The first period is known as the Villanovan culture until around the 7th and 6th centuries BC, when population shifted from Umbrian to Etruscan. Around the 21st century BC, the area was conquered by a Celtic tribe known as the Boii. In 196 BC the area was overtaken by the Romans, which after the Punic Wars the Boii found themselves enslaved, and the Romans destroyed many settlements in the area.

All of this, and we haven’t even gotten to the Middle Ages, or Modern periods. However as we aren’t here for a history lesson we will dispense with most of the history to talk about the modern Bologna a bit.

There are a number of interesting little tidbits about Bologna. For example, the city center has more than 38 km of Arcades. It is possible to walk around the city center in the rain without getting wet because of all the arcades.

Osterias offer places to gather, eat and drink. These are very relaxed little cafes that vary in the types of things they offer. One, for example, doesn’t serve food so you can bring your own and order drinks from the bar. Another is known for the quality of the deserts served.

T-days are typically held on the weekends, and all of the streets in the city center are closed to automobile traffic. This is very popular with students since they never use cars, and T-days allow them to wander the streets freely.

Oh, did I mention that Bologna is home to one of the oldest Universities? The University of Bologna was founded in 1088.

Also, many people don’t realize that Bologna has a number of canals, just like Venice. Only they are much smaller, and were created for merchants to transport their goods.

And there are lots more interesting facts and tidbits about Bologna that we could spend the whole hour of this show just talking about them… But we won’t, instead I’ll ask…what Netlabel is located in Bolgona, Italy? Well, let’s hear a track from our featured label before answering that question…

Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile

That was Humanity and Paper Balloons by Salome Lego Playset on our featured netlabel: Spettro, from Bologna, Italy.

It is probably not much of a suprise that there is a Netlabel in Bologna, after all the city was appointed as UNESCO City of Music in 2006. UNESCO described the city:

As the first Italian city to be appointed to the Network, Bologna has demonstrated a rich musical tradition that is continuing to evolve as a vibrant factor of contemporary life and creation. It has also shown a strong commitment to promoting music as an important vehicle for inclusion in the fight against racism and in an effort to encourage economic and social development. Fostering a wide range of genres from classical to electronic, jazz, folk and opera, Bologna offers its citizens a musical vitality that deeply infiltrates the city’s professional, academic, social and cultural facets.

Spettro is, somewhat simplistically understood as described by Nicola, in this manner:

Spettro Records is an experimental (net)label dedicated to sonic experimentation of all kinds. Based in Bologna, Italy, and started in 2010 by 3 individuals involved in various music projects, now it’s run by Nicola alone ( myself ). Spettro releases anything that is un-conventional and un-stereotyped, from noise, post rock, hardcore, ambient, field-recordings, heavy electronics and un-categorized hip-hop. Pretty much everything that doesn’t belong elsewhere. So far up to 123 records have been released, and many more are coming, mostly in free download format but also in limited edition cdr and tape. So far more than 70 artists and bands have released under Spettro Records in Creative Commons, coming from Italy, Greece, U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Finland, Holland, Argentina, Sweden and more. Italy, where the label is placed, is just a place on the map, as Spettro operates through the internet, and its music is free to be shared, copied and reproduced in any way possible.

However, they have a rather lengthy manifesto that talks more about the relationship of the artists to the music they are producing, the reasoning and conception of the label. In fact, the Manifesto serves a philosophy in itself that can be applied not only to the label, but to the relationship many musicians have with the internet, the music industry and society as a whole. It is a fascinating read that goes well beyond the time we have allotted for a profile on this show, so it will be published with the Enhanced version of the Spettro profile on The CerebralRift.

For now, let’s just check out some more music from Spettro for the remainder of this Netlabel Profile show…

Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile: Closing

Thanks for joining us for Netlabel Profiles featuring the Spettro netlabel. If you enjoyed the music on this show, be sure to check out Spettro athttp://www.spettrorec.com/

This show is released under a Creative Commons, Attribution, Non-Commercial Share Alike license. All of the music from Spettro played on this show is released under a Creative Commons license.

Be sure to check out the enhanced version of this show on The CerebralRift (http://cerebralrift.org). The posting on The CerebralRift includes:

  • Additional selections from the Spettro catalog
  • Links to all the music played on this show
  • Links to the references used in preparing the profile of Spettro
  • Links to the Spettro website, and social media sites
  • A printed transcript of this profile
  • And an exclusive printed interview with Spettro’s Nicola.

Thanks for joining us for Netlabel Profiles. This is your host SndChaser signing off, and wishing you the best of free listening!

Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile: References

Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile: Playlist

Artist Title

Salome Lego Playset Humanity and Paper Balloons

Your Dog 1

Nevre Tetsuo – Kaneda – Akira

MassaKiss Booty Goblin Tug On My Nutz

Ak’chamel Yolk Sac Tumor

Mr. Drey De Revolutioni

Sheeba Exp Clearing

Cockmasta Flex Trankwulize da Shovel

Psycoton Ti’u

Cockmasta Flex Cummin in the Starz

My Man Mike Bleach Baby

Lauderdale Third Eye Blind

Fabio Rosho III

Naoki Ishida & Ayato Room 415

The Sun Through a Telecope The Bitten

Monkeeastronaut Hunting

Cervo My Days Devour

Enhanced Spettro Records Netlabel Profiile: Interview

1. Please introduce yourself / yoursleves.

My name’s Nicola. I used to play guitar and electronics in the band Salomé Lego Playset and keep playing solo as SLP and Male Resistance. I’m 29 years old, male, currently working as an English teacher.

2. How did you decide that you wanted to run a netlabel? (Did anyone or anything inspire you to do this?)

Me and a group of friends involved in various music projects had so much material we wanted to share that we decided to start our own label, and nobody seemed to be interested in listening to them, to we took the matter to our own hands basically…

3. Why did you decide to release your works under a Creative Commons license?

I believe the ultimate aim of any artist should be make his own work as accessible as possible, everyone should be able to enjoy it and interpret it freely and without any sort of boundary.

4. How much time do you spend on running your netlabel?

A lot, I guess it’s my main hobby, and it gives me a sense of living.

5. Have there been any projects (ie netlabel related, but not necessarily about a release, like maybe you set up a concert / festival / etc.) that are especially memorable to you?

Over time we have organized several concerts around the area of Bologna. Probably Z’ev playing for the inauguration of our label in 2010 was the most exciting moment.

6. Is there a long-term goal for your label?

I’d just like to see the music Spettro releases reach as many ears and hearts possible.

7. Are you involved in anything else other than producing music? (IE, videos, CD’s, wallpapers, t-shirts, etc.)

I’m not interested in merchandise, what’s important is only the music. Videos are also released at times and Spettro collaborated in the publication of a book, some essays and is currently involved in a podcast named Beby Radio ( http://bebyradio.podomatic.com/ )

8. Any cool stories about projects / releases? (IE, they got used in someone else’s movie / video, or something similar.)

Not that I can think of, but I guess the most rewarding thing is having people turn to Spettro and offer their music and time for free, and that is something wonderful and the main reason I keep going.

9. What is your take on the future of music? (IE, do you think streaming will be more important than downloads, do you think the major labels will go bankrupt, do you think more people are turning to netlabels than traditional music sources, etc.)

I don’t think it will be so different from now… The advent of liquid music was anticipated by fears and huge expectation on the death of labels and physical music, but the two things can coexist, peacefully, separated and integrated too. Just look at the variety of media experimental and “other” music uses: audio tapes, midi, cdrs, vinyls, free download, streaming, sheet, installations, and none of them is doomed to disappear.

10. Any upcoming projects / releases / events you would like to mention?

Z’ev will be releasing on Spettro, and loads of new material is soon to be released so keep following us!

Spettro Records Contacts

Label Spettro Records

Website http://www.spettrorec.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/spettrorec

SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/spettro-rec

IA https://archive.org/details/spettrorec