Fran McDaniel
Seattle in the 90’s and Richmond now have a lot in common: a fascination with the perfect cup of coffee, subversive subcultures, and a flourishing music scene.
Recently Richmond formed a whole new connection to Seattle: Sub Pop Records.
Minor Poet, a local artist, has recently signed to Sub Pop Records. To be signed to Sub Pop is a big deal for a group, many highly recognizable artists were signed and distributed through the label that was at the forefront of the 90s grunge movement. In its early days, Sub Pop signed Seattle’s best: Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney among others, earning its status as the label that popularized grunge music.
In recent times, however, Sub Pop has focused more on signing the modern genres of indie pop, folk and rock. Minor Poet, as an indie pop group, fits right in Sub Pop’s repertoire. Some current artists signed to the label are Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Foals, The Shins, Father John Misty and Sleater-Kinney.
Minor Poet started as the solo project of local musician Andrew Carter. Now, there are touring members, and their performance style has developed into something much greater than a solo bedroom project.
“Their new single ‘Tropic of Cancer’ has gotten a lot more acclaim than any of their older stuff and just by that you can tell that they’ve honed their sound,” Gus Hubbard, senior, said. “I think that signing to a bigger label and having more resources from that, like not producing in someone’s bedroom or basement, and having more permanent touring members has influenced the songwriting and production for sure.”
Minor Poet is set to release a new six song album on May 17 through this new label. The release party will be the following day, May 18, at The Broadberry.
The Hawk Eye 