The Off The Record series ventures stateside to Chicago, Illinois to reach out to one of the most iconic modern labels going at the moment; International Anthem, who are now celebrating 11 years on the planet. Started in 2014 by Scottie McNiece and David Allen International Anthem Recording Company has been focused on pushing some of the most ground breaking sounds in Jazz, funk, soul and blues. With a roster that extends to names like Makaya McCraven, Jeff Parker, Damon Locks, Carlos Niño and more it has proved to have an eye for the highest quality in sound and curation. For this mix the label has nominated their own Alejandro Ayala AKA King Hippo to hon and curate the sounds provided. King Hippo had a show on Worldwide FM Chicago show – so we are definitely in good hands. Coming in at a clean hour, Ayala brings in various styles of Jazz, moulded expertly to provide a perfect home listening experience or what the label likes to be known as the “Floating Kissaten Mix”. We sat down and had a chat about the mix with Alejandro, as well as about the label and about what they have coming up in the future for their 11th year.
Hey Alejandro, thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind it was?
Yes yes! Thank you so very much for thinking of us and for asking us to put this together. It really is a great honor to be included in the Off The Record archives alongside so many heroes and homies! Your initial email was serendipitous .. even more so now that you’re saying this is Show Number 55?! Wow!! Anyway — we just started our 11th year of existence as a label and we’re going to party all year. We’re calling the yearlong celebration “IA11”, which consists of IA11 events and releasing special IA11 editions of records that have been very important in our first decade. We’re also using this time to set intentions for the next decade and beyond. So with all of this in mind, I thought this show should highlight music from our first decade! Many people view us as a “jazz” label, but from the jump you can hear that we are most interested in human creativity and how far it can go; like how our sister jaimie branch used to say, “Fuck your technique, SOUND FIRST!”. Or like our mission statement says, “…IARC label has grown to embody a global community of like-minded artists, musicians, and cultural workers dedicated to craft as a means of discovering truth and celebrating humanity.” All of the music in this episode showcases that and hopefully illustrates the many sonic facets of the dome. This is one to sit and LISTEN to, like a kissaten right where you are. Ha ha ha … we can call this the Floating Kissaten Mix!
So usually we ask “What are your preferred methods for finding new music?” but as this mix is from a label how about we ask how do you go about finding music for International Anthem, what drives you towards a certain artist and sound?
The label was born from doing shows. We work with people who are very serious about their craft, helping them find spaces and audiences for what they want to play. As you know, doing shows can be stressful and put character to the test. You can find comrades in doing this, people who you vibe with in any situation. You’d probably keep working with someone who was totally cool under pressure and if it was all love the whole way, right? That’s how it is for us. It’s very organic. In doing these shows, we meet the other cats who play in the bands and learn about what they’re doing. The process starts again. We find out we work well together and the family expands by one. You see? Very organic. After all of this comes the records. We love collaborating with the artists throughout the whole process. I can talk your ear off about all the through lines in the label’s catalog, but I think it’s more fun to listen ha ha ha …
What are five records that have inspired the label?
Speaking personally here –especially as a broadcaster– I get inspired by new music all the time. Everyone at the label is a record collector and gets really nerdy about what they like and why, so you’ll find a very diverse list of answers from all of us. Currently, I can’t stop listening to Jessica Pratt’s Here in the Pitch. I always have my ears on Liv.e and love how she fearlessly employs creativity. I find the records by Brother Phil Cohran to be vast oceans of beauty and information. Soji Adebayo’s Infinite Spirit Music is super deep, his hand-drawn cover is so wonderful as well. Isotope 217’s The Unstable Molecule and Cafe Tacvba’s Revés/Yo Soy are crucial and truly inspirational. Oops.. that’s six!
What has been one of your most memorable moments at the label over your career?
I suppose the most memorable moments –the most beautiful moments– are when we rock with like-minded people in other countries. Or, that is, when we rock with cats in other countries only to discover we are like-minded. It really reinforces the fact that one of music’s greatest gifts is its ability to unite people and that you really can have a sister or a brother anywhere in the world. That’s powerful information. We all sprouted from this Earth — we don’t have to be divided if we don’t want to.
What do you have up your sleeve for 2025?
You know, I was looking at the calendar and at all of the releases we have lined up through the end of December.. and it took my breath away. We’re really going to release one amazing record after another — and I’m now speaking as a fan of music. It’s really wonderful! All of these releases really show how eclectic the label is and we’re really going to end the year with a bang. I wish I could tell you everything right now! I guess some big news is finally out – we have a record coming with Tortoise soon. It’s their first new music in nearly ten years! Have you heard their new single? In the next two months, we’ll announce our next three new releases and we’ll also have our second IA11 editions drop ready to go. It’ll be fun to keep up with us this year, Hippo’s Honor!
Thank you Alejandro 🙂
