What we talk about when we talk about release
To honor our work, we must release ______
This year you’ve heard us repeatedly extoll the importance of releasing our work as artists and creative people. What do we mean when we say release?
A release is a way of honoring a work
As Tyler the Creator told us this summer, when we put out creative work we’re not promoting ourselves, we’re honoring the time and effort that went into making it. Too many people treat their creative output like fast fashion (h/t Nick Susi). We owe it more.
A release introduces a new work in your catalog
A release is something you’re saying belongs in your canon. Part of your legacy. It’s not some throwaway thing. This one counts. Taxonomies and catalog numbers help establish this deeper universe.
A release shares the context and why
Content is king and context is queen. Understanding where a work comes from and what universe it exists within is what makes something special and valuable. Releasing establishes the context that lets the work be properly seen.
A release invites others to participate
A release is not meant to be passive. It invites an audience to engage, watch, purchase, attend, or exchange. Releases are established ways for creative people to monetize their work and be rewarded for what they do.
Releasing versus posting
Posting is how creative people have shared work for the past decade. Releasing much more enthusiastically celebrates creative work.
We’re not going to make a more enriching, empowering, and uplifting creative ecosystem by posting more. We’ll make it, together, by re-discovering what it means to release.
A future release
In October, Metalabel will introduce a new universe for all creative people to release. If you’re interested in being a part of it, tell us about what you’re working on here.
Featured Release
On Dealing with Creative Anxiety
The Creative Independent
Physical and digital zine
In its second release with Metalabel, the incredible Creative Independent returns to reissue “On Dealing With Creative Anxiety,” a zine of insights by everyone from actress Audrey Plaza to writer Mike Rugnetta to musician Nikki Sixx on how to channel your creative concerns.
All 52 pages are packed with insights and advice from other artists on how to handle the journey. Just 50 physical copies are being reissued, along with an open digital edition.
Virtual Memorials
Lizzie Klein
Artist book
As culture-heads, we appreciate the deep, the obsessive, and the unusual. Which are just three of the many reasons we connect with artist Lizzie Klein’s singular collection “Virtual Memorials,” which collects and physically prints screenshots of memorials left for real people in virtual spaces. Edition of just 20. Not many remain.
“As Long As / Nowhere Near”
Mattias Nihlén
Music | Digital release
The second Metalabel release from a Swedish musician who releases mesmerizing dreamscapes of .WAV files. Meditative. Hypnotic. Suspenseful. Recommended.
Moment of Zen
On TikTok our product designer Erin Rimmer has been making daily videos about artists on Metalabel. Including this one about the iconic “Deep Fried Half Cat” release:
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Peace and love,
Metalabel
It's been driving me mad and I have to know @yancy - is the title of this post a reference to Haruki Murakami ?
Can I add though that releasing does not always bring in $$$, putting anything on physical format other than a USB for some is net loss.