As part of our extended online Sofasonic Festival series, we have an array of playlists on Spotify that have been carefully curated by artists & friends of the festival for your listening pleasure. Check out this week’s selections…
Sofasonic Playlists: Radwan Moumneh | Mark Titchner | QUEEF | Gazelle Twin | Matt Ridout | Khyam Allami | Molly & Mabel | Decolonise Fest | Rocket Recordings | Mike Nelson | Faten Kanaan | Iggor Cavalera | Valentina Magaletti | Sex Swing | Mariano Sarine | Sofa King | Ben Sadler | Rosie Tee | Elle Donlon | Natalie Sharp | Matters | Bunny Bissoux | impaTV | Bryn Perrott | Dorcha | Hen Ogledd | Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs | Nicholas Bullen | J. Zunz |
We’re so excited to be hosting Vinita Joshi, founder of the label Rocket Girl, for our panel talk ‘Spinning Plates’ on Feb 12. Vinita launched Rocket Girl Records into the atmosphere in 1997. She’s since enjoyed over two decades orbiting the music industry having established one of the premier UK independent labels; the glorious result of a music lover releasing music for music lovers. We asked her to collate some highlights from the Rocket Girl catalogue as some recommended listening…
Nestling under the wing of the influential Cheree Records and then co-founding an offshoot label Che Records in 1990, Vinita finally established her own record label, Rocket Girl in 1997. Within weeks of the label’s inception, Rocket Girl released a 7” split single by Silver Apples / Windy & Carl, to coincide with the Silver Apples’ sold-out European tour booked by Vinita herself. Hot on the heels of the Silver Apples / Windy & Carl 7”, 1998 saw the release of Rocket Girl’s first full-length album – ‘A Tribute to Spacemen 3’ – a celebration of the pioneers of drone, with offerings from (the then largely unknown) Mogwai, Arab Strap, Piano Magic, and Low, among others. In today’s digital world of streaming and disposable MP3s, Rocket Girl can be relied upon to produce records with a quality of artwork and packaging reflecting the precious music within.
Tune in here…
“The first track is the single taken from the forthcoming album by USA band White Ring. ‘Show Me Heaven’ is out on 19th February. I am currently working on the next album from Fuxa and hope a new album from Pieter Nooten might follow. It’s a very difficult time for bands without their touring income and being unable to promote their new releases, but the public have been very supportive.
We can’t wait for live music to return.
I also have a mail order shop and think people might be surprised by some of the releases I still have in stock (especially 7″ singles from small DIY labels).”
Some more info about the panel talk…
Supersonic x Swamp present… Spinning Plates
Friday 12 February 2021, 19:30 GMT
Live stream via YouTube
+ Q&A
We’re delighted to share with you the fourth instalment of our series with Swamp Booking, entitled Spinning Plates, on Friday 12 February 2021. Hosted once again by journalist, Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley, this time we hear from Julie Weir (Head of A&R Music For Nations, Sony Music), Bettina Richards (Thrill Jockey founder) and Vinita Joshi (Rocket Girl Founder), all of who have over two decades of experience in the record industry.
This panel will explore how Julie, Bettina & Vinita have navigated their way through the business. They’ll be sharing insights from their early beginnings to their greatest achievements in running successful music labels, not forgetting the challenges that come with it.
