By Kaila Krayewski
Karen McLane isn’t coming down off her 2004 music high any time soon.
Creator of Music For Cats, an independent Ottawa record
label run out of her home, McLane is excited about what’s next for the bands produced by her label.
McLane may be a full time electrical engineer at Nortel, but that hasn’t stopped her from releasing four records in the last two months.
She’s already looking towards 2005, when she’ll be
releasing more records by local artists.
Both Birdman Sound, located in the Glebe, and Compact Music, located in Centretown and downtown, sell Music For Cats records.
The label’s music can be heard on campus radio stations
across Canada, as well as in
the U.S.
Two American bands are being produced under Music For Cats: Reverend Glasseye and Asteroid No. 4.
Reverend Glasseye, from Boston, has asked to be produced solely by Music For Cats. Reverend Glasseye will be releasing a record in the spring of 2005, which McLane predicts will be Music For Cats’ most successful release.
Philadelphia-based Asteroid No.4 played last month at Barrymore’s. The band released a new double vinyl record around the same time.
Many artists go to Music For Cats because it is one of the few labels that actually turns out music on vinyl records, which produce a warmer sound.
No written contracts are involved because McLane explains that her friends play in most of the bands she produces, so in her mind, spoken contracts are good enough.
Inspired by Kelp Records, a prominent Ottawa record label, McLane decided to start her own label in 2001.
Together with Richard Jeffrey, who now co-runs the label, McLane began recording for her friends, out of a studio in her basement.
The name Music For Cats stems from a mélange of ideas—among them, the fact that most traveling artists can only have cats because you can’t go on tour with dogs, and the 60s reference to cool musicians as “cats.”
The first band produced under the label Music For Cats was local band Golden Famile. McLane says that they are her favorite band on her label. “They’re kind of my flagship band,” she says.
McLane says that all the bands take an active role in producing their records.
The Glads have been produced by Music For Cats since the band started recording in 2001. Patrick Shanks, a member of The Glads, says that he really enjoys the camaraderie that comes with having Music For Cats as his band’s label.
“We all know each other, we’re all friends. When you say [Music For Cats], people think of four or five bands,” says Shanks.
Though Shanks says it’s possible to release a record without a label, McLane offered to put up the money and do the distribution for The Glads. Shanks was happy to accept.
“It’s easier working with Karen and Richard than it
would be on our own,” says Shanks.
“They’re super easy-going.”
Birdman Sound also helps out, says McLane, who mentions that she goes to them for distribution advice.
“They know the market. They know what people like,” says McLane.
“I get a lot of good advice from them.”
John Westhaver, owner of Birdman Sound, says that the Ottawa music scene has benefited from Music For Cats.
“I think all the stuff [Karen] does is above average in terms of quality,” says Westhaver.
Westhaver also comments on McLane’s appreciation for the bands.
“[Karen] has been releasing music by artists that she really likes and they’re generally from the Ottawa area. The major record labels don’t necessarily like everything they put out. The object is not making money on Karen’s part. It’s a labour of love.”
With styles ranging from cabaret to psychedelic country, Music For Cats isn’t limited to a specific kind of music.
“We’re not really genre-specific. We just have to like it,” says McLane.
Music For Cats bands typically play at the Dominion Tavern, Zaphod’s, Barrymore’s (usually as opening acts), Irene’s, and The Black Sheep Inn.
Though the label isn’t yet completely self-sufficient, that is McLane’s goal.
She says that ultimately, she would like to run the label full time, even though she thinks it’s a bit of a pipe dream.
“I think that the dream would be to do it full time, but that’s like really dreaming.”