Ninth Life Records aims to be “a bastion for emo, sad punk, and grunge leaning sounds.”
Talk Heavy (Credit: Brooke Harley)
A new label has come to the rescue for Australian emo, punk, and grunge bands: Ninth Life Records. Launched in Queensland earlier this week (April 27), the label aims to fill a hole in the market, advocating for those in the alternative music space.
“Ninth Life Records was founded to fill a current void in the scene with many Australian bands in the emo space not having representation that caters to their specific sound and needs,” their website reads. “At its core, the mission is simple: sad punks helping sad punks.”
Founded by long-time musician Tayla Ellerby and Greyscale Records CEO Joshua Merriel, the label comes with established connections to the scene, a deep love for music, and “a shared commitment to giving back to the community.”
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“Driven by a passion for the DIY ethics of the punk and hardcore community, Australian based Ninth Life Records emerges with a clear purpose: to establish itself as a bastion for emo, sad punk, and grunge leaning sounds. Artist-run and artist-focused, Ninth Life exists to help lay down solid foundations that support emerging homegrown and international artists to develop dedicated followings in Australia and beyond.”
Since launching, Ninth Life Records has already announced their first signing: Talk Heavy, one of Ellerby’s projects. The pop-punk Brisbane band is releasing a new track, Die 4 U, this Thursday (May 1) via the label. Described by Talk Heavy as “a fast, melancholic punk anthem exploring the moment you realise you care more about someone than they do about you”, Die 4 U will mark Ninth Life Records’ first release. You can pre-save the track here.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body