Lil' Chief Records is a New Zealand–based indie pop record label formed in 2002. Operating from the Auckland suburb of Mt. Eden, it was founded on releases by The Tokey Tones and The Brunettes. The label's roster now includes a collective of pop artists such as Jonathan Bree, Princess Chelsea, The Ruby Suns, and Edmund Cake.
History
Founding Lil' Chief Records was founded in New Zealand by indie pop musicians Scott Mannion and Jonathan Bree in 2002. The two men had met that year in Marbecks Record Store in Auckland, where Bree was working at the time. They discovered they were both bedroom recording artists who shared a number of influences. Likewise, both were having difficulty finishing their respective albums and finding a label, particularly since the trend in New Zealand at the time was towards guitar-based rock bands.
They decided to form their own label to focus on a niche of "100% orchestrated pop music from the New Zealand music scene," citing Factory Records, Flying Nun, and Creation Records as inspiration. Lawrence Mikkelsen, a friend of Mannion's and an early supporter of the label, volunteered as the label's "post master general" and archivist.
Initial releases
The label's first release was the debut LP of Bree's band The Brunettes. Released October 2002, Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks was a joint release with EMI New Zealand. The album received a glowing review from AllMusic, as did the label's second release, The Brunette's 2003 The Boyracer EP. Bree produced both albums.
The label soon set up its headquarters in the Auckland flat of Gareth Shute, a local writer and musician who had befriended Scott Mannion. Dubbed 'The Ghetto,' the large flat's rooms and graffiti-lined garage became a regular rehearsal space, as well as a recording studio for many of the label's future releases. As of 2013, it continues to be the location of operations.
The next two albums on the label were released simultaneously in 2003. Caterpillar and Butterfly by The Tokey Tones both featured and were produced by label founder Scott Mannion. Members of The Brunettes guested on some of the tracks, and when playing live The Tokey Tones have since relied on a revolving cast of musicians from other Lil' Chief Records bands, such as The Brunettes and The Ruby Suns.Sendra, Tim. AllMusic The New Zealand Herald stated "There has been nothing quite so tasteful, fully realized or confident in Kiwi pop," about the releases.
Later that year indie pop band The Nudie Suits released their album Songbook on the label. Frontman Mark Lyons was both Bree's cousin and had been a mentor in Bree's formative years.
Development
In 2004, the band The Ruby Suns was formed when Ryan McPhun moved to Auckland from California and started playing in The Brunettes and The Tokey Tones.
In 2005 Edmund Cake released his solo album Downtown Puff on the label, which was followed by Shaft's debut LP Open Sesame and releases by Alec Bathgate and The Ruby Suns. The label's community of musicians also formed a cover band called Disciples of Macca, which focused on solo Paul McCartney and Wings material.
Also in 2005 the label released Now We Are Three!!!, its first compilation, which featured tracks pulled from its previous catalogue. The compilation was positively received with a review stating "Lil Chief Records is a label to keep on eye on." A second compilation, Greetings From New Zealand, followed in 2007.
By 2006 the roster had expanded to include artists such as Lawrence Arabia and his band The Reduction Agents, Shugo Tokumaru, and the band Voom. Radio New Zealand did a feature on the label in August 2006, when Andrew Clifford visited their Auckland headquarters.
In 2008 the label was written up in the UK's Sunday Times in the article ”New Zealand, pop Mecca? A new wave of bands is set to expand your horizons”. Also that year The Ruby Suns were named among the "best new music" in Pitchfork, while Lawrence Arabia toured with Feist.
In May 2012 the label released the compilation These Shaky Isles, with tracks going back ten years in its catalogue. As of 2013 label continues to release indie pop bands, such as the all-girl project The Gladeyes and Princess Chelsea.
Artists The following artists have released albums through Lil' Chief Records as of March 2019.
Alec Bathgate Jonathan Bree The Brunettes Cool Rainbows Edmund Cake The Gladeyes Lawrence Arabia Little Pictures Mainard Larkin The Nudie Suits Pie Warmer Pikachunes Princess Chelsea The Reduction Agents The Ruby Suns Scott Mannion Shaft Sheep, Dog & Wolf Shugo Tokumaru The Tokey Tones Voom Wet Wings
Discography The following list is organized by catalog number, which is a roughly chronological number system established by the label.
No. Artist Title Year LCR001 The Brunettes Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks 2002 LCR002 The Brunettes The Boyracer e.p. 2003 LCR003 The Tokey Tones Caterpillar 2003 LCR004 The Tokey Tones Butterfly 2003 LCR005 The Nudie Suits Songbook 2003 LCR006 Edmund Cake Downtown Puff 2004 LCR007 The Brunettes Mars Loves Venus 2004 LCR008 Shaft Open Sesame 2004 LCR009 Alec Bathgate The Indifferent Velvet Void 2004 LCR010 The Brunettes When Ice Met Cream 2005 LCR011 The Ruby Suns The Ruby Suns 2005 LCR012 Various artists Now We Are Three!!! 2005 LCR013 The Nudie Suits Sweetacres 2006 LCR014 The Reduction Agents The Dance Reduction Agents 2006 LCR015 Lawrence Arabia Lawrence Arabia 2006 LCR016 Voom Hello, Are You There? 2006 LCR017 Shugo Tokumaru L.S.T. 2006 LCR018 Shaft Down At Your Life 2006 LCR019 The Brunettes Structure & Cosmetics 2007 LCR020 The Ruby Suns Lichen Ears EP 2008 LCR021 The Ruby Suns Sea Lion 2008 LCR022 Little Pictures Owl + Owl 2008 LCR023 Pie Warmer The Fearsome Feeling 2009 LCR024 The Brunettes The Red Rollerskates E.P. 2009 LCR025 The Brunettes Paper Dolls 2009 LCR026 The Gladeyes Psychosis of Love 2009 LCR027 The Ruby Suns Fight Softly 2010 LCR028 Pikachunes Pikachunes 2010 LCR029 The Eversons The Eversons E.P. 2011 LCR030 Princess Chelsea Lil' Golden Book 2011 LCR031 The Gladeyes Shadows Explode 2011 LCR032 Wet Wings Glory Glory 2011 LCR033 Cool Rainbows Whale Rocket 2012 LCR034 The Eversons Summer Feeling 2012 LCR035 The Eversons With A Little Help From Our Friends 2012 LCR036 Pikachunes Miles 2013 LCR037 The Ruby Suns Christopher 2013 LCR038 Jonathan Bree The Primrose Path 2013 LCR039 Sheep, Dog & Wolf Egospect 2013 LCR040 The Icypoles My World Was Made For You 2014 LCR041 Wet Wings Willow Peak 2014 LCR043 Princess Chelsea The Great Cybernetic Depression 2015 LCR044 Jonathan Bree A Little Night Music 2015 LCR045 The Eversons The Eversons present The Emilys: Super Awesome Cartoon Band 2015 LCR046 Various artists Waiting For Your Love: A Tribute To The Reduction Agents 2016 LCR047 Princess Chelsea Aftertouch 2016 LCR048 The Ruby Suns Sprite Fountain 2017 LCR049 Jonathan Bree Sleepwalking 2018 LCR050 Princess Chelsea The Loneliest Girl 2018 LCR051 Scott Mannion Loving Echoes 2019 LCR052 Jonathan Bree After The Curtains Close 2020 LCR053 Princess Chelsea Everything Is Going To Be Alright 2022 LCR054 Jonathan Bree Pre-Code Hollywood 2023 LCR055 Princess Chelsea Live at Studio Two 2026 LCR056 Jonathan Bree Don't Call It Love 2026 LCR057 Mainard Larkin Rattlesnake Boy 2026 LCR PROMO001 Various artists Greetings From New Zealand 2007 LCR PROMO002 Various artists These Shaky Isles 2012
References
External links
Lil Chief Records on MySpace Lil Chief Records on Facebook Lil Chief Records on YouTube Radio New Zealand: Visit to Lil Chief Records (August 25, 2006) - 25'12"