Who started the label and what were your general aspirations?
I [Jem Maloney] started it to put out the second Fire Witch CD. I had put out around 3 or 4 of my own bands CDs at that point and it seemed logical to start giving them a home. I suppose my main aim is to bring music to people that they might not otherwise hear. There is also a strong emphasis on hand made packaging which is both rewarding and exhausting. But more than anything, realistically, it’s the only way most of my bands music is ever going to get released. People are not beating down my door to put out my records!

Where is the label’s homebase?
Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. My “office” is in my bedroom. Occasionally it’s in the backyard if the weather is good.

What kind of distribution does the label have?
People can buy everything online direct from me at WeEmptyRooms.com or at gigs I am playing (elise&jem, Fangs of…, Fire Witch, Goat Witch, Inappropriate Tough Guy Behaviour, etc.) All the titles are also Distro’d via Missing Link Distribution meaning any decent record store can order them in. Or visit the website for a list of stores that definitely have my stuff.

How can a band get signed to your label?
I am having a hard time right now keeping up with my own bands releases so have not had much time to think about who else I’d like to release stuff by. This is not a genre-based label. I only release stuff I am passionate about. There is no way I could justify the amount of unpaid hours spent on them otherwise. To answer your question people should just contact me if they are interested in releasing something with WER.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a record label owner right now?
Probably the biggest challenge is the high cost of pressing vinyl. It seems it’s very difficult to sell CDs now but vinyl pressing is not cheap and it makes for a high-risk venture if the release doesn’t sell well. Also it’s insanely expensive to post around the globe. I’m not really that well informed about the industry. I hear many of the commercial labels are struggling. But I’m not sure if that even has any relevance to labels like mine. Though it’s nice to hear they are going down!

Why do you do it?
Primarily I do it so that my bands can release records. I also find a lot of pleasure in putting a release together. Sourcing packaging materials, screen printing the covers, arranging the artwork…all that stuff. Some people make model aeroplanes or fix cars or whatever. I make records. It’s rewarding when people buy/trade my records and notice and value the time and love that’s gone into making them. I also enjoy collaborating with other band members/artists to come up with unique packaging ideas. Yes technically I run the label but I consider it a collaborative effort for each release. Otherwise it would be IEmptyRooms.

What else do you do?
I work at The Old Bar, pulling beers and work all manner of labouring jobs to pay the rent. All my other time is spent playing in bands, running the label, going to gigs or cooking. I’m a pretty sad case really.

Favourite holiday destination?
Anywhere without phone reception or the Internet. Unless there are also hippies.

What is your most recent release and what’s on for the short-term future?
Most recently I released the Fangs of a TV Evangelist LP and the Inappropriate Tough Guy Behaviour LP/CD. Next up is a Hard-Ons 7” recorded live on their 21^st anniversary tour. This will eventually be coupled with an LP from the same recording.

Long-term future?
Next year there will be some Fire Witch re-releases (and even a few sneaky shows to go with them) and I have some plans for a live series with a bunch of bands if I can afford to release them. I also want to do a zine with Jace from Fangs of…

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WeEmptyRooms site: www.weemptyrooms.com

WeEmptyRooms MySpace: www.myspace.com/weemptyrooms