SUPER PURPLE RECORDS
Self- proclaimed enigma Super Purple Records is beyond definition. Rooted in the DIY music scene of Chicago, this multimedia arts and music management collective is breaking the mold of traditional music production.
“If you’re not being collaborative in the industry, you really won’t succeed.”
Both Wrënch and Noodle Boy have released fresh music since their disperse to college, and have lent support to other music acts in their spare time. Super Purple’s intimate and personal approach to recording is a refreshing method, challenging the modern industry’s impersonal and rushed formula. “With all these new tech services—which can be a total drag... you can record, mix, master, publish, and promote an entire record just from your bedroom. Of course, that means the industry is now saturated with a lot of mediocre music that otherwise wouldn’t have made the cut in the era of traditional labels, but I think that’s a great alternative than the exclusive white-boys club the industry can be.” With their warm and down-to-earth touch, Super Purple’s philosophy perfectly matches Chicago’s vibe, and answers the city’s call for a more personalized and grass roots way of producing.
“If one person succeeds, its everyone succeeding.”
“...It’s hard to compare Super Purple to anyone else yet because in all honesty we don’t really even know what it is ourselves. It could evolve into a collective of booking agents, promotional services, and recording—or something else we haven’t even thought of yet.” The like minds of indie rock band Wrënch and art collective Wet Noodle Assembly joined together over a shared passion for grass roots bands, hoping to use their resources and creative talents to offer “A one-stop-shop to help local acts get on their feet... It was a pretty organic start, we were all hanging out one day binging on Minecraft when we talked about working together to start a more defined project… George would always talk about how the dream was to eventually set up a studio spot in Chicago after graduation. Before Super Purple, George helped local acts like Noodle Boy, Winter Beach, and obviously his own band Wrënch, out with recording and mixing.”
Super Purple team member Lilli Marvin brings a wideset array of skills to the table, ranging from photography and design, to interview work, to the occasional flute playing. Her talents matched with multi instrumentalists George Rezek, Matt Roge, and Jack Brereton create the full package of creative vision and support for their clients. Rezek and Roge’s band Wrënch and Brereton’s solo project Noodle Boy are both currently signed on Super Purple, and plan to tour the summer of 2019 to spread the purple. “This will be most of ours fist legitimate tour run (except for George, who has toured with his band from Belmont before) and I expect we will learn so much from just this single run.” The four are currently spread out in the states working, studying, and creating. “At this point in our lives, with everyone living in different states and working on their own stuff at school, Super Purple is simmering in the background while we pursue more demanding projects. Of course, once we are all back together in the summer and touring, we will be doing a lot more to develop specific goals. As of right now, we just help out whoever we can whenever they need it—a very informal yet very helpful approach for bands like us who are unsigned and don’t have the structural support bigger acts do.”
Chicago’s new wave of indie rock bands have created a uniquely supportive community. “Especially at our DIY level of production, if you aren’t involving yourself in your local scene and community you can’t expect to get any kind of support back. There are entire Facebook pages devoted to band members from different states helping each other book shows, give tour tips, and even host each other. These kids will really give you the shirt off their back, and I think that’s what sets it apart from the rest of the industry. While of course there is interpersonal support on all levels, the camaraderie is astounding. You definitely don’t see this kind of community pursuing other types of professional work.” Super Purple may be working from different states, but their heart and soul lies in Chicago. With their biggest inspirations coming from back home, they have been able to carry the city’s music style and warm energy with them wherever they go.
“Oh man, Chicago is everything we do.”
In an industry as competitive as music, down to earth and generous hearts can be hard to come by. In this regard, Chicago is a true gem in the realm of the music business. The new wave of young DIY bands is carrying on the city’s history of music collaboration and support.
“Everyone is helping everyone with their tracks, features, joint-tours, I know Twin Peaks is touring with Post Animal who just played with Paul Cherry, whose bassist knows all of us from Evanston School of Rock. You see our point? Draw enough connections and you could probably unite the whole scene in some way. If one person succeeds, its everyone succeeding. Of course the sound has been highly influential to ours as well, you look at Wrënch’s ‘recommended if you like this’ page on Spotify and its all the Chicago classics. How could we not look up to them?” Super Purple’s fresh and eager energy to keep their work genuine and collaborative puts nothing but good vibes into the Chicago music community. At just the beginning of their journey, Super Purple’s opportunities are endless.
