Hey Ben, most folks reading this will know who Profane Existence are. But what has been going on for the last few years with PE? Who is running things now between design and distribution there must be a lot and how did you get started at PE?
Profane Existence has “existed” as a zine, record label, distro, collective, message board, blog and force for the anarcho-crust / hc punk scene since the late 80’s. It has seen a variety of incarnations over the years. Different projects and events. Different people coming and going. Each contributing what they could and leaving their mark as time, energy and passion allowed. Currently the Profane Existence posse consists of Dan Siskind, myself, the bands and handful of diehard contributors who post on the PE blog. Dan has been the main force behind Profane since the start and has kept things going through the ups and downs. In my opinion he is Profane Existence. When he’s not thinking up new projects for PE he’s also running BRICKMANIA, a very successful lego toy company that specializes in custom made Lego war themed kits. He designs and makes lego tanks, fighter planes, weaponry and the like. It’s pretty brutal. In Defence even wrote a song about it. It also requires a lot of his time and focus. I guess that’s where I come in. I coordinate the record label and related projects. I correspond with the bands, get things into production, assemble records, pack orders, update the web store, send out mailings, make flyers, book shows etc. If you got a record from Profane in the last year chances are good my finger print is on there. I’m either sorry or you’re welcome. lol. I also have another job and a band and I tour so I kind of do this in my spare time but I love it. It’s really cool being a part of Profane. I started helping out at early 2011 shortly after PE released a record for my band, In Defence. Prior to joining Profane I played in various bands, put out our own records and local comps, booked shows and did a small zines. I enjoy that side of diy punk. I figured this was my opportunity to get involved and do those same kind of activities on a bigger scale.
What do you look for when releasing something by a band? How do you discover the bands that you might be interested in working with? Have you released stuff in the past that a band has sent you, should bands still submit their demos? Do the bands ‘politics’ play a part in you working with them, or would you be happy working with non political bands?
One of the main things we take into consideration is whether or not we like a band. Do we like how they sound? Do we like them as people? Does it connect to what Profane Existence is and/or about on some level? Sometimes there are bands like APPALACHIAN TERROR UNIT who embody the sound, style and ethos that Profane Existence is known for and other times there might be a band outside the box but at the end of the day if we put out a record for a band it’s because we like them, believe in project and have the time and resources to dedicate to it. We don’t pull out a spread sheet and see who sold the most units or who’s FaceBook page has the most likes. PE has worked with some very legendary bands and PE has worked with some very small bands who, with the exception of having the distribution of Profane, never made it out of their home scene. It’s very organic. Bands are encouraged to send in material for review on our blog. But it’s rare we get a “demo” from a band we’ve never heard before and do a record for them. We usually know the band or have worked with them in the past. We’ll even contact a new band that catches our attention. Dan has been doing this forever. He knows who’s out there and I meet hundreds of bands when I’m out on tour with In Defence. The world is small and the punk scene is even smaller.
Tell us more about the limited edition singles series you are doing, is it something like the Sub Pop singles club in the late eighties/nineties?
For 2013 we are going to release one new 7″ each month as part of the “PE LIMITED EDITION SINGLES SERIES”. And it’s funny you should mention Sub Pop because we are reissuing all the old Nirvana demos. It’s gonna be called “Making Punk Grunge Again”. I’m only kidding… start rumors if you want but with this series we just wanted to try something a little different. So we thought we’d do a limited edition 7″ for each band and press them on multi-color wax. When you pull it out the vinyl might be pink or yellow or white or purple depending on what the band wanted. And it’s kind of neat because the covers are black and white. Traditional punk colors. lol. The covers were all designed by the bands but each record is numbered and has a “crass style” border signifying the series. And while each record is unique in it’s own, it’s also part of a bigger, unified project. In a way it’s a lot like the punk scene. There are a lot of different bands out there. They all have their own sound and style and live in different parts of the world but collectively the punk scene is a united force with similar goals and ambitions.
Is it still very much the DIY ethic of no contract?
For the most part everything is a hand shake deal. Like I said we are usually friends with the bands we put out records for. Mutual respect is important. Some times we’ll spell out the details of the agreement just so everyone is on the same page but we don’t have our lawyers draw up contracts or anything. We approach everything on a project by project basis. We will usually press a set amount of records and the band get’s their cut to sell at shows etc.
Is the design aspect of a lot more important now than the past. Is there more importance these days on the packaging of a release?
It all depends on what you are looking to do with a given project. Different strokes for different folks… or bands as it were. Sometimes you want that awesome packaging with color vinyl, a high gloss cover with a multi-panel inlay and fold out poster. Of course it’s gonna cost more to make that. Other times you might want to keep it simple, keep it cheap and get it out to the masses. It all depends on the band and the scope of the project. We’ve done both and I can appreciate both style of doing records.
Has the internet reduced costs for you, between reviews and promotion?
Yes. It use to cost a lot to send out promos. We had to pay the cost of postage, shipping materials and the cost of the records. Now you can send out an e-mail attachment. Technology. I’ll tell you, when I was a kid… lol.
What do you think of the state of the underground punk scene today?
When I was younger I was an outcast for listening to punk, wearing ripped up clothes and bullet belts, believing in the cause. Now it’s cool to do those things. But I think there is a strong community of punks in Minneapolis and around the world. I’m glad that we get to put out records for a select few of them.
It is a new direction for PE in releasing an oi record. Do you think there is still a large divide between fans of oi styled music like The Shame and someone like Iskra?
THE SHAME – The World Is Ours…. #1 in the Profane Existence Limited Edition Singles Series is also the first Oi! record Profane has put out. It’s not a new direction just a band we like. Chad from The Shame has been a friend of Profane Existence for years. He use to be in Brother Inferior and Bring Down The Hammer both very political thrash/crust bands. Some people are very particular about what style of punk they listen to. I listen to crust and I listen to Oi!. I think this scene needs The Shame just like it needs Iskra.
Would you consider releasing music by other styles such as sludge, drone, doom metal etc?
Sure if we like the band. I think the punk scene is very diverse and I use the term “punk” very broadly. You’ll find this scene is made up of a lot of different styles of punk, crust, hardcore metal, doom and all it’s sub-generas and combinations there of.
What’s in the near future for PE, will the magazine return?
Right now we are focused on the 7″ series. So far we’ve announced the first 6: The Shame, Despise, Wartorn, Rifle Diet, Deadly Reign and Krang. Check the Profane Existence blog for updates, interviews and announcements. The magazine was awesome but it got to be really expensive. So now have everything up on the blog now.
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