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DTRASH started out in the Fall of 1998 when Cpuwar and DJ Rabies (originally known as 2 man project AK-47) learned of each others music and felt that times were changing and a new collective/label might kick start something in the minds of electronic youths across N.America. Brodie and Mike (then of Cpuwar) coined the phrase DTRASH and released an EP that pretty much did nothing. A release followed a month later by Zak of AK-47 which had limited success in the band's hometown of Boulder, Colorado. The idea of the label at that point was to use DTRASH as a uniting element that would expose AK-47 to Cpuwar's fans and vice versa. Both bands needed exposure in a bad way and this was an effective strategy.

Things eventually began to snowball and through a lot of hard work, people around the world were buying limited amounts of our first releases. Brodie, Mike and Zak (both still in high school) were busy listening to music from all kinds of kids and inviting them to take part in the label. Kids in Europe were learning of the label through the internet and a few acts from Europe were recording for DTRASH. Things were getting hectic for those in charge, music was being recorded at an astonishing pace and record label matters were cutting into recording time.

In the first months of 1999 the work involved with the label was more than Brodie, Mike or Zak could personally deal with. Jay (the mind behind Schizoid) came aboard and had an immediate impact generating prospects for the label. 1999 brought an increased amount of exposure. Bastards United played large festivals throughout their country, Schizoid appeared on a Brutal Truth tribute compilation, Cpuwar released a 12" in Germany on kool.POP recordings and people around the world were really getting excited about our label.

That same year, DTRASH began distribution across N.America and people were finally able to buy our CDs in a store like all those other old fashioned labels out there. It was actually pretty weird for us at first because we didn't have the slightest idea how to run the label financially. Things were admittedly very unprofessional. DTRASH was growing but could we keep up with it? Many businesses didn't want to deal with us; we were too much of a risk. Hell, we were a liability - can't lie about that one. Everything was random, chaotic and our releases made the perfect soundtrack of our lives during that time.

By the time the new millenium came, we were becoming involved in things we couldn't even deal with. We wanted huge distribution and we actually got it. The problem was that we weren't even close to being ready to deal with it. In the end, there were huge contracts, lawyer fees and legal issues we weren't able to face yet. It was reality check time. The label wasn't able to sustain itself based upon CDR releases alone and all of us wanted DTRASH to keep moving. Around this time Zak decided to part company with DTRASH and focus on his new Cassandra Datakill project with other record labels. We kept believing in DTRASH and it was time to make a higher investment to keep growing.

In 2000 we formed two avenues of major release through the record label. DTRASH Technologies was specifically created for pressed, official DTRASH releases. DTRASH Records will to continue to support young electronic artists and bands (we've got a whole new level of DTRASH youths ready to put out a whack of new releases). A lot of record labels want to pretend that they're actually doing something for the kids out there but we're the ones actually doing it. We'll always be here to put out dangerous, exciting music that you can't hear anywhere else.

DTECH (the Technologies sub label) kicked off in the Summer of 2000 with Schizoid's album 'All Things Are Connected'. We're continuing our DTECH releases with more to come in the near future. Our original plan for DTECH001 was a 12" compilation that was botched when difficulties broke out between artists on the label (caused just as much by the chaos of 99). That compilation is forthcoming.

Now, we can walk into an HMV on either coast of N.America and pick up a DTRASH CD - it's a great feeling. We started out 3 years ago very naively and having learnt from mistakes and successes DTRASH now exists as a premier provider of underground electronic music through the internet and in record stores. We're definitely not another generic label; we've gone about things in a completely different manner than anyone else. Its something to be proud of when you're in your early twenties and a part of something so special.

It might be cool to read about, but listen to our tracks and we're sure you'll be surprised. DTRASH is all about music in the end. DTRASH. Our sound since 98. Its been good and its getting even better. Oh yeah.

Jay and Brodie.

DTRASH Records
Jan.2001

posted by: moron on 2001-04-04 00:00:00
view: other label entries posted by moron