The Grates Start Their Own Label

Brisbane-bred DIY-rock stalwarts The Grates have announced that they are forming their own label imprint, Death Valley, through which the band will release their forthcoming, as-yet-untitled, studio full-length.

The brainchild of now-married members Patience Hodgson and John Patterson, who also run Brisbane's Southside Tea Room when they're not attending to Grates duties, Death Valley comes following a gestation period provoked by the experience of operating the cult shop, which is situated in the southern suburb of Morningside.  

"We've always really enjoyed doing things ourselves and, after opening our shop in Brisbane two years ago, we were reminded of that," Hodgson said in a statement. "As much as we've enjoyed the benefits of being in the big-label system, we've always struggled with the mechanisms of the record industry.

"What makes it powerful is what also makes it slow, and having our albums collect six months of cerebral dust in our heads, before an audience gets to finally hear it, left us unsatisfied."

The new Grates album, which will be Death Valley's first release, is set to be produced by Straight Arrows frontman and veteran desk-man Owen Penglis (Royal Headache, Frowning Clouds, Palms), and is sure to maintain the high-quality output we've come to expect from the band over the course of releases such as acclaimed debut LP Gravity Won't Get You High (2006) and follow-ups Teeth Lost, Hearts Won (2008) and Secret Rituals (2011).

Death Valley will be welcomed into the Create/Control family as an independent entity, which Hodgson describes as "a great opportunity", serving as a hub for The Grates' own music and that of their friends and esteemed peers

"We felt the only way to really get the best album release for us and our fans was by doing it ourselves," Hodgson said. "Running a business for the last few years gave us the confidence to do this, while also introducing us to many amazing people and creating the right conditions for organic collaborations, the greatest love story being that we originally hired Ritchie Daniels, our now-drummer, as a barista."