LimeWire Music Blog

Never mind the buzzkill. In spite of political scandals, widespread unemployment, and a downward spiral of economic and architectural decay, southern Michigan’s music scene has never been more vibrant. Leave it to Flint native Michael Moore to document the downturn; Ann Arbor label Quite Scientific Records is celebrating the upside: the seemingly limitless creative potential of an area of the U.S. with a glorious musical history and, perhaps, an even brighter musical future. In this EXCLUSIVE interview, QuiSci co-founder Brian Peters gives us the skinny on what makes the greater Detroit area such fertile ground for great bands, as well as what his label is doing to help foment the scene there and bring its message of positivity and collaboration to the world. Plus, in celebration of the label’s 3rd birthday, they’re giving away a FREE sampler, which is available now at LimeWire Store!

Tell us the story of how Quite Scientific was founded.
Brian Peters: Quite Scientific at the very beginning was really more of a recording service than a label. After college, I spent every penny I had, and even a few pennies I didn’t have, on recording equipment and quickly got to work recording as many southern Michigan bands as I could. After a short while, it became apparent that there were all these wonderful artists that now had records, but had nothing to do with them when they were done. It was at this point that I really gave thought to starting a record label. It was obvious to me that there was all this great indie/folk/rock music in southern Michigan, but no one was really shining a light on it — I felt compelled to try and do something about it. Overnight it seems, with the addition of Justin Spindler, my brother Jeremy, and the signing of Canada, QuiSci switched tracks and became a record label. And that’s more or less how Quite Scientific got started.

Is the label built around some sort of mission statement? Is there anything in particular you look for from an artist you’re thinking about signing?
The label to this day still stands behind showcasing Michigan music, though of course we’ve worked with out-of-state groups we’ve had the pleasure of meeting along the way. For example, Cotton Jones, though not Michigan natives, are very much a part of the southern Michigan music fabric. Cotton Jones (Page France at the time) took Canada on one of their first large tours; friendships were made, and Mike Whitney & the gang quickly became a part of the Michigan fold. I think this sort of speaks volumes about what we look for in new artists. We’re pretty “Midwest” about it and like to keep it very much a community of friends. I couldn’t imagine releasing an album with complete strangers, or someone I wouldn’t want to hangout with or have my mom meet.

QuiSci is located in Ann Arbor, MI. What about Ann Arbor/Detroit has allowed it to stay so relevant in the music world for so long? What can other locales learn from southern Michigan about how to foster and maintain a healthy music scene?
There simply has to be something in the drinking water is all I can figure. No, I often think I can place my finger on it, but my answer to this question always changes.
My answer today: I think as a Michigan artist you’re constantly pushed to invent and then reinvent time and time again — Michigan musicians have to live in the shadow of some of the greatest music ever made. I mean, if you ask anyone about Detroit music, they’re going to talk about Motown, Detroit Techno, and garage-rock/punk, à la Iggy or the MC5. However, perhaps due to this back-and-forth between Michigan’s wonderful musical past and the struggle to identify one’s own music as creative and unique in and of itself, there springs this impressive culture of amazing bands doing things unlike anything you’ve previously heard, or what most would ever expect to be coming out of the Detroit area.
I’m sure the above can be said for many of the other major music hubs around the globe, but I have to say, the one thing I think that truly sets Michigan musicians apart, in this constant struggle to reinvent while working under a lineage of musical greatness, is the fact that they’re actually supportive of each other. Perhaps it’s just midwestern nature, but I think musicians here understand: that which comes to benefit one, can only help to benefit the scene as a whole — so why not be supportive of your fellow artists. Oh man, I love Michigan…

Read the rest of our exclusive interview and get your link to QuiSci’s FREE Camp Summer compilation album after the jump.

You and your brother (QuiSci co-founder Jeremy Peters) also work for Ann Arbor-based Ghostly International. What are the similarities and differences between the aesthetics, methods, practices, etc. of the two labels?
It’s funny, we get asked this quite often, as all three of us do indeed work for other labels (Justin Spindler works for Mute). Honestly, Ghostly and QuiSci are very much cut from the same cloth. We share a lot of the same ideals and passions — though of course, there is the difference in the genres each label typically works with — though even this line seems to be blurring these days (Ghostly with Choir of Young Believers’ album, and QuiSci with an upcoming City Center 12″). It’s very much a huge benefit to all parties, I feel: Jeremy and I will do something at Ghostly and then see if we can’t apply it in some way to QuiSci, and vice-versa from QuiSci to the Ghostly offices; back and forth, day after day. It’s all record labels, all the time here at the QuiSci camp.

Which upcoming releases are y’all most excited about right now?
Oh man, I’m really excited for the upcoming ‘09/’10 release schedule. This winter we’ll be releasing City Center’s Spring St., a four-song, one-sided clear 12″ with a screen print on the record itself — how cool is that? It gets better: In early 2010 we’ll have Chris Bathgate’s new album, Salt Year; at the risk of sounding over-enthused or perhaps obviously biased, I’ll say quite simply that it’s going to be awesome! And wait, it gets even better: Later on in 2010 we plan to do a collection of Cotton Jones songs, some old, some new, rarities & b-sides — all on vinyl. My heart tremors just thinking about it all. Exciting.

What’s the story with this free compilation album you’re giving away here in the LimeWire Store?
I’m glad you asked. We’ve never done a compilation before, but thought it would be a wonderful way to mark our third year as a label. It features familiar faces like Chris Bathgate & Frontier Ruckus, but also showcases a few of the new kids on the block like Lightning Love (great twee-pop trio out of Ypsilanti, MI) & Drunken Barn Dance (Scott Sellwood, ex-Saturday Looks Good To Me member). Hope you enjoy!