Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Holmes.
Hi Philip, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA where I started touring in bands at age 16. I split my time for the next decade and a half between production-related office jobs (on account of student loan bills) and hired gun touring gigs, which have put me on stages around the world.
A couple of months ago, I started a small record label out of my studio in Echo Park called Lemon Throne Records that I am hoping to use as a mechanism to release and promote music from my immediate orbit. We’re starting small and manageably, very much learning as we go, but have plans to grow our output and become a trusted producer of music and culture in Los Angeles and wherever else interest lies.
So far, I’ve released music by local soul singer Runson Willis, with multiple other projects in the pipeline. The aesthetic and sensibility of the label is inspired by 60’s 45s, 80’s hardcore and my own DIY punk rock upbringing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Learning how to do everything as I do it has created a bit of a “flying by the seat of my pants” vibe, but I decided that not knowing exactly what I was doing was no longer an acceptable excuse not to do it. I’ve been handling pressing plant vendor management, learning effective PR habits and strategies, in addition to the writing and production of the music itself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been a bass player and rhythm guitar player for many years, and I am now moving more concretely into the “producer” direction. I love to incorporate my musical sensibility into a coherent recording – to take ideas from the nascent phase and build up functioning arrangements and dial in particular sounds. I love working with artists to develop their ideas and turn it from a thought into something more tangible.
I believe that genre is first and foremost a marketing construct – that music is music, and genre is just who you’re selling it to. I’m hoping to transcend genre lines with this label and emphasize strong songwriting over all else.
That being said, my initial approach to the sound and feel of the label is a sort of Motown by way of indie/garage rock.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Just because something has been a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean it can’t change.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.lemonthronerecords.com
- Instagram: @lemonthrone
Image Credits:
Judy Reyes James Petith
