Wolves Records is Weaving Together Local Artists with Authentic Ambition

By Kira Grunenberg, March 19, 2015

Honesty, sincerity, authenticity…these are characteristics that, more often than not, are appreciated, no matter where they are applied: within an individual, in a gesture or in a larger goal within a person’s life –especially where companies are involved. Put music or some kind of creative outlet in the mix and that the value of these qualities doubles without question.

Of course, infusing one’s real sense of self into music one is writing and or playing, versus infusing that same “realness” into a pursuit that supports the music of others –that can amount to a different matter entirely. This sub-branch of the music field doesn’t always come together with the same amount of devout substance. It’s fortunate though, despite this reality of life mixed with business, that there are people out there who want to provide as much care and first-degree level of connection to musicians from the vantage point of the “business end” of things, as they would if they were in the woodshed writing music for themselves.

Musician and songwriter, Alec Ciesla, has recently chosen to stand up in the crowd as a new ‘resource for the real’ in music business, with the launch of his DIY-oriented label, Wolves Records. Based on Long Island, NY where Ciesla also calls home, Wolves Records is investing its energy in bringing together the power of a music team with the humble and transparent philosophy of an individual artist pushing to persevere.

Ciesla spoke with me recently and shared some of the rational behind Wolves Records, as well as shedding some spotlight on the artists he and the rest of the Wolves team have formed bonds with as the label has formed.

Kira: Why did you start Wolves Records? What brought on the inspiration for this new project?

Alec Ciesla: I started Wolves to release my own music and I had plans of working with other musicians to create music beyond what we would be able to create individually. Up until recently I only recorded music alone with few exceptions. About 18 months ago I started playing live and met some really great and creative musicians. Meeting these great people made me want to help them, in any way I could, record and release their music. Suddenly this side of the music business, which I always thought was horrible, seemed interesting to me and I want to help get this music out to as many people as I can.

Kira: Who’s involved and what’s their role and their background?

Ciesla: I run the label –I have no experience. I just want to document the beautiful music my friends make. My brother, Ian, does the artwork for all my projects and created the label’s logo. Sara Kossin does art for the band Bulletins, as well as being in the band. Nick Sanmartin is helping with promotions and has interned at many music companies and labels. Matt Floss runs a printing shop and will be printing up merchandise for the label.

Kira: How does Wolves select who to work with? What’s your roster criteria?

Ciesla: I am the one who decides who the label works with. If I think somebody is making sincere music, and I am physically moved by it, I want to work with them. I love all styles of music, so it just has to be from the heart. All our groups have a desire to do new things and never repeat themselves. A DIY ethic is important too. I want to work with people who love putting time and energy into making themselves the most beautiful musicians they can be, and have no interest in seeking out fame or attention (in a narcissistic way).

Nobody on our roster has an ego or thinks they are better than anybody else because they play an instrument or write great songs. This music-first attitude is palpable in all our artists and it creates a beautiful environment for creativity. In our collaborations, everybody has always been incredibly open to others’ ideas and personalities in the hopes of creating something better than they could have imagined. Music is not a contest and it is not a way to control others.

Kira: What kind of support can artists expect from working with Wolves?

Ciesla: I plan on releasing as much physical music as I can afford. We want to specialize is vinyl releases and custom made-to-order CDR packages where every copy is different in some way. We are beginning to look at throwing shows for all the bands on the label, and I will help book them all book shows individually. Bulletins is going to be supporting the band Forget This on two dates (April 4th and 6th in Washington DC and Chapel Hill, NC respectively). We are going to be making music videos in support of physical releases soon.

Kira: What can the public next look forward to from Wolves Records?

Ciesla: One of our bands, Bulletins, is doing a small tour in April. (See flyer below.) We [also] have a few releases coming up soon from Jarvis Probes and Luke Zwelsky Group and the American Working Class. Dates for those releases will be announced soon.

Kira: How should artists contact you if they are interested in joining the roster?

Ciesla: I am not [currently] looking to expand the label to include bands I do not personally know. All my friendships with these artists have grown organically and we all met each other pretty serendipitously. We have a very supportive group here. We are doing this because we love it. All our digital releases are released on Bandcamp as pay-what-you-want downloads.

You can keep up with the evolution of Wolves Records through their official Facebook and Bandcamp pages. More on all their artists is below!

Wolves Records roster is: