Weekly Volcano
Flashback to the early ’90s. Music and Olympia were synonymous. There was an explosion of artists and labels that created the Olympia we know and love. Music geeks were having their day. From the renown K Records to the Riot Grrl sound. Even Sub Pop started as a cassette/fanzine at The Evergreen State College. But the decline of grunge hasn’t hampered Olympia’s independent distribution scene. The city has recently seen an increase in indie labels that thrive on internet savvy. Calvin Johnson, father of K Records, comments on this new generation of labels. “It’s the healthiest it’s ever been. It’s very active. Records are coming from everywhere.” These new labels are able to survive a harsh economy by utilizing the internet to distribute across the globe. “People overseas are interested in our music because it’s good and partly because of the history and reputation of the Northwest,” said one label owner.