Sometimes I'm excited to do this and sometimes it feels like a chore, but on the whole it's a more meaningful way to connect with some of you, so I'll definitely keep it going in 2021.
We've got a wild year ahead. This label has grown far beyond anything I anticipated and shows no sign of letting up.
My sincerest gratitude to everyone who has been involved with any aspect of running this thing. Evan McGonagill for providing the earliest support that made starting the label even possible, Meghan O'Leary for keeping our finances honest and being there to help when I am drowning in unpacked orders, Frank Meadows for gracefully assuming all roles involved in co-running this with me, and Jon Samuels, who not only overhauled our visual aesthetic but is now also officially running the label with Frank and me as well. I was likely going to burn out and cease doing any of this without the help of all of these people and the many more who have shown support throughout this label's existence.
Most importantly, thanks to all the incredible artists who have trusted us with your music. We've tried our best to get your work into as many ears as possible. Jon, Shane, Jason, Natalie, Kath, David, Flow, Karl, Joan, Frank, Carmelo, Michael, and Josh (plus bootleg homies Pete, Eli, Sam, Jen, Lisa, and Matt!!!): I love you all. You are amongst my favorite musicians creating today, so the pleasure of working with you is all mine.
Here is a picture of all of our 2020 releases, minus Josh's tapes which supposedly arrive Monday and the Oggetto tape. My copy, due to the pandemonium currently afflicting the USPS, is still somewhere between NYC and Philly. I love that Oggetto release and the tapes look damn good. Excited to hold one in my hand.
We had 9 official releases and 6 bootleg releases in 2020. Stay tuned for even more in 2021. Lots of new friends, some exciting follow ups by DLR artists you love. A whole mess of bootlegs. And a special record, the demos to which I've listened to more than anything else this year.
Thanks for sticking with us. Maybe I'll see you at a show some time next year.
Michael Cormier
Dear Life Records
JOIN THE DEAR LIFE DISCORD
Click the picture to join the Dear Life Records Discord! Chat with your favorite artists on the roster, get sneak peeks at upcoming releases, and join us as we watch live concerts on YouTube at the same time. Last night was James Blood Ulmer. There are also lots of pet photos and no one seems to like the band Twiddle.
JOSH HALPER CELEBRATES ALBUM RELEASE WITH VIRTUAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
Check out Josh Halper's full band performance of 'Alrightnik' in celebration of the album's release, recorded live at Grimey's in Nashville. Halper's charm and talent are on full display, and it's a treat seeing this music come to life with a band of extremely talented Nashville players. Hopefully we can all see them perform live some day!
JOAN KELSEY SHARES VIDEO FOR 'TIE YR DAUGHTER DOWN'
Directed and edited by Joan, this video captures the nobility and grace that their music exudes. The Pacific Northwest seems pretty nice too, huh? Much less trash than in Philly.
YEAR END FAVORITES FROM THE DLR COMMUNITY
I will reiterate: this label is full of great people with impeccable taste. Make their picks your own!
FRANK
Luke Stewart Exposure Quintet - s/t
Jessica Pavone String Ensemble - Lost and Found
Lomelda - Hannah
Told Slant - Point the Flashlight and Walk
The Microphones - The Microphones in 2020
Weirs - Prepare to Meet God
Nate Wooley - Seven Storey Mountain VI
John Zorn - Baphomet
Bob Dylan - Rough and Rowdy Ways
Horse Lords - The Common Task
JON
Bill Fay - Countless Branches
Doubt - Compare and Despair
Wednesday - I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone
Horse Lords - The Common Task
100 Watt Horse - Dog is Goob
Blake Mills - Mutable Set
Tenci - My Heart is an Open Field
Wendy Eisenberg - Dehiscence
Yves Jarvis - Sundry Rock Song Stock
Lomelda - Hannah
Josh Johnson - Freedom Excercise
Sam Amidon - s/t
Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
Post Moves - Cut Into Your Own Dimension
Anna McClellan - I saw first light
JOSH
Spencer Collum - Spencer Collum’s Coin Collection
Bill Frisell - Valentine
Joan Kelsey - House of Mercy
Lawn - Johnny
Josephine Foster - No Harm Done
Rainsticks - October Onwards
JOAN
Wendy Eisenberg- Auto
Nighttime- ∞
Yves Jarvis- Sundry Rock Song Stock
Sumac- May You Be Held
Little Kid- Transfiguration Highway
Tenci- My Heart Is An Open Field
Nnamdï- Brat
Adrianne Lenker- Songs
the innocence mission- see you tomorrow
Lomelda- Hannah
JAKE (HMMM WHO IS JAKE?!?!?!)
Court Passion, Ziti, Kudzu - Country Gamble
JR Samuels - Hand Like God
Zach Romeo - You Won't
Sumac - May You Be Held & Two Beasts
Tashi Dorji - Stateless
Colin Miller - My Love in the Winter
Walkhome - You and Me
Broken Family - Broken Family Album
LINDSAY (HMMMM WHO IS LINDSAY?!?!?!)
Okay Kaya - Watch the Liquid Pour Itself
Oneohtrix Point Never - Magic Oneohtrix Point Never
Yaeji - WHAT WE DREW
TOPS - I Feel Alive
Green-House - Six Songs for Invisible Gardens
Remi Wolf - I’m Allergic to Dogs!
Allegra Krieger - The Joys of Forgetting
Yves Jarvis - Sundry Rock Song Stock
Eve Maret - Stars Aligned
LUCAS (HAS RECORDED, MIXED OR MASTERED MULTIPLE DEAR LIFE RELEASES. WORK WITH HIM)
Yalc 123 - yalc nitsua mailliw
Joey Agresta - Let Me To Rock
ONO - Red Summer
Andy Shauf - The Neon Skyline
Ryan Power - Mind the Neighbors
Flanafi - s/t
Knot - s/t
Enchanted Forest - Jacob's Ladder
Chris Weisman - Full Professor
Jeff Park - Suite for Max Brown
