K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the band Dub Narcotic Sound System. Inspired by Sun, SST, Rough Trade, CJ Records, Bomp!, Dischord, and many others, Johnson started the label originally with the simple intention of making his friends' music available to the world,[1] but over time its reputation grew. The K motto is "exploding the teenage underground into passionate revolt against the corporate ogre since 1982." The label has been so influential in anti-corporate independent music and underground DIY punk culture, particularly in the Olympia music scene, that it was the subject of a documentary directed by Heather Rose Dominic entitled The Shield Around the K, with a tagline of "Do It Yourself".[2]
Artists who have worked with K Records
Influence
- Nothing Painted Blue released a song "K for Karnival" which is partially a tribute to K Records; it repeats "Who put the shield around the K?" several times, referring to the interstate-style shield around the letter K in the K Records logo.
- Musician Kurt Cobain had the K Records logo tattooed on his forearm, saying it was to "try and remind me to stay a child." It is mentioned in the song "Lounge Act," which was written about Bikini Kill co-founder, Tobi Vail. ("I'll arrest myself / I'll wear a shield")
- In 2005, Springfield, Illinois indie band Resident Genius recorded a tribute song called "Calvin J", which contains the line "International pop underground/unknowingly broke fresh new ground"
See also
References
External links
View More Summaries on K Records
