1 :: How did you launch your label and why? C.R.E.A.M.?

We were both at an Induced Labour show in early 2010 where Leslie (Predy) smashed a pint glass off the stage, dove into the shards, and was dragged by her pants around her ankles by the crowd. Deirdre later picked the glass out of her ass. That night we both fell in love with them. Later that spring, over some very fine homemade Italian food with friends, Deirdre stated her intention to release their record and James wanted in. The record took a while to put out so we released a Vagina Bison tape, a 7″ split from Gay/White Suede, and a 7″ EP from Suitcase Sam in the interim. By the time the Induced Labour record came out, we were already working with more artists. It’s been rolling steadily ever since.

2 :: To date, which of your releases has been: a) the best-seller, b) your favourite and c) the biggest bummer?

Young Guv & The Scuzz has undoubtedly been our best seller. We’ve sold that record all over the world. He also recorded the Tropics, Huckleberry Friends, and Gay/Sexy Merlin records we’ve put out. He’s one of the most prolific guys in Toronto right now. The Soupcans and Suitcase Sam have also worked very hard to get their records out there, selling a few at every show, playing as often as they can around town and touring Canada and the States.

As for B, that’s like picking your favourite child. We’re so proud of them all! Our favourite is usually whatever we’re working at the moment, since usually that means we’re listening to it over and over and over before the final press. You become quite intimate with the record, like you’ve known it for years.

The only time it feels like a bummer is when a record we really love doesn’t have the immediate impact we feel it deserves. We become like angry parents at their kid’s hockey game.

3 :: What sets you apart from other labels? Music, art, liner notes, posters, glossy 8.5” x 11” head-shots?

We initially connected over music by both being record collectors. Deirdre works at She Said Boom records in Toronto and James would hang out there for hours browsing, yakking about bands, listening to different records. We like to think there’s a certain diversity in our catalog that reflects our broad tastes. We never wanted to have a genre label that would only release a specific style. I don’t think we could ever commit to that, there’s just too much different stuff we’re into.

4 :: Future plans? What can grippers look forward to gripping?

By this time next year you’ll be hearing records by Pon De Replay, Fleshtone Aura, John Milner You’re So Boss, Wasted Nymph, Odonis Odonis, a VHS tape of the last Induced Labour performance, and hopefully a few others.

Pleasence Records Discography (to date)

• PR000
• ::
• Vagina Bison
• –
• Self Titled
• (2010, Cassette)

• PR001
• ::
• Induced Labour
• –
• Self Titled
• (2010, 7″)

• PR002
• ::
• Gay/White Suede
• –
• Split
• (2010, 7″)

• PR003
• ::
• Suitcase Sam
• –
• Get It To Go
• (2010, 7″)

• PR004
• ::
• Pleasence T-Shirt

• PR005
• ::
• The Soupcans
• –
• Erotic Nightmare
• (2010, 12″)

• PR006
• ::
• Sexy Merlin
• –
• Self Titled
• (2011, 7″)

• PR007
• ::
• Gay/Sexy Merlin
• –
• Self Titled
• (2011, 7″)

• PR008
• ::
• Young Guv & The Scuzz
• –
• Bedroom Eyes b/w Rumors
• (2011, 7″)

• PR009
• ::
• Tropics
• –
• Pale Trash b/w Earmarked
• (2011, 7″)

• PR010
• ::
• Huckleberry Friends
• –
• Vision b/w Disaster Keyz
• (2011, 7″)

• PR011
• ::
• The Pink Noise
• –
• Gilded Flowers
• (2011, 12″)

• PR012
• ::
• Man Made Hill/Young Truck
• –
• (2011, 12″)