Embedded in the city of Columbus is a “very small scene” of musicians, headed by 2001 Ohio State graduate Drew Clausen.
Very Small Scene Records celebrated its one year anniversary last week, and continues to base itself on the principle that music should be easily accessible and provide a strong link between the music fan and the artist. The label takes recordings from its members and other local artists and puts them up on their Web site for free distribution.
“I receive demos from all over the country, just people trying to get their music heard,” Clausen said as he sat in his campus-area home, which is also the headquarters of VSS Records.
Clausen attributes much of what he knows to Ian MacKaye, lead singer and guitarist of the band Fugazi. MacKaye prompted a similar revolutionized record label called Dischord Records in the early 1980s for punk bands in the Washington, D.C. area.
Clausen calls the rest of what he does “experimental.”
“We are independent in a sense that we were shown the rules and only chose to follow a couple of them,” Clausen said.
“VSS Records is my way around everything that I’m not supposed to be doing as far as making music my life. You always hear people say, ‘Oh you can’t do that for a living’ … your parents, your friends, everybody says that stuff. Through VSS I was able to put out people’s records that I liked and my own records and make them accessible through the Internet,” he said.
The label’s Web site (www.vssrecords.com) is designed and operated by OSU student and systems developer engineer Andy Grecious. Visitors can find masses of free music, pictures, band bios, show dates and their very own radio station.
“The Web site alone has a lot of great features, forums and free music,” Grecious said.
“It is updated bi-weekly and it is a good place for musicians to get involved in the scene. VSS takes musicians under their wings, and Drew has a lot of clout,” he said.
The music available to people who visit the site consists of VSS artists such as: Mors Ontologica, Quanah Parker, The Spikedrivers, Digital Millennium Planet Daddies, Glen Stuphin, DRIVe and other featured artists that play frequently in Columbus. The musical genres of these bands includes bluegrass, funk, techno, rock and working-class post-punk, which strangely compliment each other. Because of this the bands can put on ensemble performances that showcase a great sense of creativity and diversity.
“VSS can be looked at like a library of local music,” Clausen said.
“Even if you don’t have any money, we feel you should still be able to have the music from our scene, and if you really want to buy it, it will be in vinyl format,” he said.
David Martinez, singer and guitarist of the band Quanah Parker, has been making music with members of VSS since they lived across the hall from each other in OSU’s south campus dorm, Stradley Hall.
“It’s not a competition. it’s everybody working together to put on the best possible show with good advertising, good camaraderie, good music and a good audience,” Martinez said. “If the audience is enjoying themselves, and they have a chance to enjoy all the music regardless of the genres, they will want to know what’s up and tell their friends.”
VSS Record’s most current release will feature Clausen’s band, Mors Ontologica, and their new album “Don’t Cry” on Valentine’s Day in the format of 12″ vinyl.
“By releasing our album on vinyl, it’s not like I’m trying to force people to go buy record players,” Clausen said.
“It is an alternate medium, because I think that CDs are flawed, and I don’t think any CD is going to be playable in 10 years. We also have amazing artwork by Martha Knox, who is also an OSU graduate,” he said.
“We wanted tangible art work, something that would look good on your mantle or hanging on your wall. Not just a jewel case with a piece of paper in it.”
The release will be coupled by two VSS Records shows Feb. 10, at Little Brothers, 1100 N. High St., and a special free show Saturday, Feb. 19, at Used Kids Records, 1980 N. High St., at 7 p.m.
VSS Records is also active in fund-raising for local organizations that have assisted the independent label. The bi-annual “Black Box” event has generated close to $3,000 for WCBE National Public Radio, which Clausen refers to as “returning the favor.” VSS also raises money for various charities and cancer benefits and will be holding a tsunami benefit show in March.
