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RVNG Intl.
Founded2003 (2003)
FounderMatt Werth, David Pianka
Distributor(s)Secretly Distribution
GenreElectronic, experimental
Country of originU.S.
LocationBrooklyn, New York City
Official websitewww.igetrvng.com

RVNG Intl. is an independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded in 2003 by Matt Werth, the label is run by Werth and focuses on experimental dance and electronic music, often incorporating avant-garde genres. Release formats include vinyl, CDs, and digital downloads.[1] In 2011, they were named one of the top 50 indie labels in America by Billboard.[2]

In its nascent years, the label released the mix tape series RVNG PRSNTS MX, which was later followed by the Rvng of the Nrds 12" edit series. The ReRVNG archival series and FRKWYS series continue to this day, the latter of which pairs contemporary artists with influential musical pioneers.[3] RVNG Intl. has also released original albums by artists such as Blondes, The Body, Holly Herndon, Julia Holter, Maxmillion Dunbar, and Stellar OM Source.[4][5] In 2011, the label began releasing vinyl singles under the Beats in Space imprint, which Werth co-owns with Tim Sweeney.[6]

RVNG Intl. was chosen as Resident Advisor's label of the month in January 2014 and Tiny Mix Tapes included RVNG Intl. amongst their favorite labels of 2015.

In 2016 Gideon Coe hosted “Label of Love is RVNG Records” on BBC Radio 6 and The Vinyl Factory featured RVNG as one of the top “20 Record Labels to Follow on Instagram”. The same year Apple Music Experimental Spotlight was on RVNG Intl.

In 2017 RVNG Intl. was listed as one of the best things/happenings of 2017 by The Ransom Note. The label also participated in the Prelude to Sleep series at Moogfest. An LGBTQ benefit compilation entitled “Peaceful Protest” was produced by RVNG Intl. in 2017, while in the same year RVNG pledged all profits from Bandcamp to benefit the ACLU.

The label is also noted for its charitable program Come Mend,[7] in which a portion of record sale profits are donated to causes chosen by the label's artists.

History

Background and founding

The record label RVNG Intl. was launched in 2003 by Matt Werth.[3] Werth was born in Madison, Wisconsin and spent his formative years in Little Rock, Arkansas. When he was 15, he started the punk 'zine Potluck and took over the record label File Thirteen. First established as what Werth called a "self-reflective journal fanzine" in 1989, File Thirteen was operated by Werth for 8 years.[3]

In 1996,[3] Werth moved to Philadelphia at the age of 18[1] to play bass for[3] Aspera Ad Astra. While attending Temple University[3] he met Dave Pianka, and together they came up with the idea of RVNG Intl., which was originally an event production company.[3] A mutual friend, Michael Zwizanski, recommended the name, which is an anti-voweled version of "revenge", much in the style of Primal Scream's XTRMNTR, which had come out around the same time.[3]

Werth said that the label's very first mix was intended for event clients, as proof that the label could select and manage good DJs. According to Werth, "Julian Grefe put together the first RVNG mix ―RVNG PRSNTS MX1, which was basically a spray-painted CD in a spray-painted case."[3] Following the initial mix release, MX CDs became an infrequent series of albums from artists such as Tim Sweeney and DJ Twitch.[3] After six years in Philadelphia, Werth moved to Brooklyn in 2002[3] in order to work at Flyer magazine.[3]

First releases

The record label RVNG Intl was launched in 2003 by Werth.[3] The label is based in its original location of Brooklyn, New York,[6] Packaging is frequently detailed and unique. For example, a 7" vinyl from Purple Brain came with a hand-crocheted case by designer Dani Griffiths and 1000 prints of Pink Skull's Endless Bummer were letter-pressed with 1000 different variations on the album title phrase.[3]

By 2010, the label had put out two original releases: These Are Powers’ Candyman EP and Pink Skull’s Endless Bummer LP.[1] In 2011, they put out albums by Mirror Mirror and Bronze and were named one of the top 50 indie labels in America by Billboard.[2] In 2012, the label released Blondes by Blondes, which Sean Adams, the founder of Drowned in Sound, lauded with a 10/10 review, praising the music as "bliss" and his "eureka moment."[5]

Other notable albums in 2012 included Ekstasis by Julia Holter, which was named Pitchfork's Best New Music and described as "music that's both haunting and life-affirming, something to make you dream and think",[8] in addition to the critically acclaimed "Movement" by experimental composer Holly Herndon.

In 2013, the label released Swisher by Blondes, and notable albums from Maximillion Dunbar, Blondes, Gardland, and Holly Herndon. As of 2014, RVNG has also released a number of singles and albums from the likes of Bing & Ruth and others. Preserving past works from pioneering musicians is another focus, as exemplified by the release of a double LP set from artist and producer Craig Leon (Nommos and Visiting), titled Anthology of Interplanerary Folk Music Vol. 1 and K. Leimer's A Period of Review.[9]

Series

Rvng presents Mx series

In 2003 the label first released the Rvng presents Mx CD & vinyl series, which included works from artists such as Tim Sweeney, Justine D and Purple Brain.[1]

RVNG of the NRDS series

Starting in 2006 the label began releasing a vinyl series of disco edits, titled RVNG of the NRDS. The series ran for four years[3] with album artwork from Kevin O’Neill of the independent design firm Will Work For Good.[1] According to a review, the series was "carefully riding the edges of the nu-disco zeitgeist thanks to two obvious factors...the caliber of the artists involved, and the quality of presentation from Will Work For Good, a design agency that has helped form the visual identity of the label across its many releases".[3]

Ten Rvng of The Nrds albums were released,[3] including works by Todd Terje, Greg Wilson, and Pilooski. Each artist also contributed to re-edits of songs by artists such as Wire and R.D. Burman.[1]

FRKWYS series
"The guiding concept behind [FRKWYS] is to bring contemporary electronic artists together with their creative fore-bearers of sorts and allow them to collaborate as inspired."
— Fact Magazine[1]

In 2009, RVNG initiated the FRKWYS series, skipping Volume 1 by initially releasing Frkwys Vol. 2. The first edition featured two remixes of the experimental band Excepter, remixed by Carter Tutti and JG Thirlwell and was praised as "evidence of what can make New York music great when its proprietors are willing to sacrifice expectation for innovation."[10] The series title references Moses Asch's label Folkways.[3]

In May 2010, the label released FRKWYS Vol. 3, an album-length collaboration between Arp and Anthony Moore.[11][12] Arp reworked both original and unreleased music written by Moore in the 1960s, which was the result of working together at Atlantic Sound's Brooklyn studio in September 2009.[1] FRKWYS Vol. 9 had Los Angeles-based artists Sun Araw and M. Geddes Gengras travel to Jamaica to record with the notable reggae vocal group, The Congos.[3]

Beats in Space series

In 2011, the label began releasing the Beats in Space series of vinyl singles and albums.[6] In 2015, Fact TV presented a documentary on Beats In Space and ranked BIS 25th in their Top 30 album covers of 2015. The BIS Boat Party at Mareh Festival was also a featured pick by Resident Advisor. In 2015 the Beats In Space 15th Anniversary Mix was named compilation of the month by Mixmag.
In 2016 the first issue of Record Magazine featured an interview with Tim Sweeney. Beats In Space also joined Bandcamp with Tim Sweeney being featured on Bandcamp's radio show.
In 2017 a Beats In Space photo book was featured in Record Magazine.

Freedom to Spend imprint

RVNG Intl partnered with Pete Swanson (formerly of Yellow Swans) in 2017 to relaunch his Freedom To Spend label, along with Portland record store owner Jed Bindeman. The label is described as "concerned with autonomous anomalies produced by musicians working within and outside the limits of technology to create intimate art. By virtue of this, the music of Freedom to Spend resonates across a broad sound spectrum, but thrives without rigid regulation." Freedom To Spend has reissued several overlooked and underheard experimental albums from the past few decades. Freedom To Spend was named one of the best electronic labels of 2017 by The Quietus.

Events

The label has been active in organizing art and music shows, partnering with the likes of the White Columns Gallery in New York City, the Barbican Center in London, and MoMa PS1′s Summer Warm Up series. RVNG worked with the Unsound Festival in Kraków, Poland,[6] and presented a label showcase in April 2014 at Moogfest in Asheville, North Carolina featuring Blondes, Holly Herndon, and Craig Leon performing "NOMMOS" with the Asheville Symphony.[13] Also in 2014 the 15th Anniversary of Beats In Space was celebrated at Corsica Studios in London. In 2018 RVNG featured artists and collaborated with Le Guess Who music festival. RVNG was also featured at MoMA PS1 Come Together Music Festival and Record Fair.

Artists

Current

The following artists are current as of August 2018:[4]

Alumni

Beats in Space (BIS) artists

The following is a complete list (as of August 2018) of artists who have released music as part of the Beats in Space Records series.

  • Antenna
  • Dukes of Chutney
  • E Ruscha V
  • Hidden Fees
  • Jacques Bon
  • Jee Day
  • Lauer (Philip Lauer)
  • Matt Karmil
  • Mount Liberation Unlimited
  • Paradis
  • Palmbomen II
  • Secret Circuit
  • Shan
  • Tornado Wallace
  • Gonno
  • Crystal & S. Koshi
  • House of Spirits
  • Jaakko Eino Kalevi
  • Guido w Georges Perin
  • T&P
  • Shy Layers

FRKWYS series

The following is an incomplete list of artists who have been included in the FRKWYS series:

Freedom to Spend series

The following is an incomplete list of artists who have been included in the Freedom to Spend imprint:

Discography

Main album series

Partial RVNG Intl. discography
Cat. # Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
RVNGNL01 2009 Endless Bummer Pink Skull
RVNGNL02 2010 Candyman These Are Powers EP
RVNGNL03 Hideous Racket Allez-Allez single
RVNGNL04 The River CFCF EP
RVNGNL05 2011 Lover / Hater Blondes single
RVNGNL06 Clean Plate Clean Plate single
RVNGNL07 Business / Pleasure Blondes single
RVNGNL08 Psychic Welfare Pink Skull
RVNGNL09 Interiors Mirror Mirror
RVNGNL10 Copper Bronze
RVNGNL11 Wine / Water Blondes single
RVNGNL12 2012 Blondes Blondes 10/10 review by Drowned in Sound.[5]
RVNGNL14 Ekstasis Julia Holter
RVNGNL15 Movement Holly Herndon
RVNGNL16 Woo Maximillion Dunbar single
RVNGNL17 House of Woo Maximillion Dunbar
RVNGNL18 Ekstasis Julia Holter expanded edition
RVNGNL19 2013 Elite Excel Stellar OM Source single
RVNGNL20 Joy One Mile Stellar OM Source
RVNGNL21 Swisher Blondes
RVNGNL22 2014 Improvisations Gardland live album
RVNGNL23 Syndrome Syndrome Gardland
RVNGNL24 "Chorus" Holly Herndon single
RVNGNL25 I Shall Die Here The Body & The Haxan Cloak
RVNGNL26 Rewire Blondes EP
RVNGNL27 Tomorrow Was the Golden Age Bing & Ruth
RVNGNL28 Home Holly Herndon single
RVNGNL29 2015 Platform Holly Herndon
RVNGNL30 Nite-Glo Stellar OM Source EP
RVNGNL31 City Lake Bing & Ruth
RVNGNL32 Persuasions Blondes EP
RVNGNL33 We Are Not the First Hieroglyphic Being & J.I.T.U. Ahn-Sahm-Buhl
RVNGNL34 2016 Zelalem Mikael Seifu EP
RVNGNL35 The Enlightening Beam of Bobby Brown Various artists
RVNGNL36 Catalog Compendium vol. 1 Various artists
RVNGNL37 Reassemblage Visible Cloaks RVNGNL37-1 is Valve / Valve (Revisited) single
RVNGNL38 2017 The Gradual Progression Greg Fox
RVNGNL39 Private Energy (Expanded) Helado Negro
RVNGNL40 UkabazUmorezU Sugai Ken
RVNGNL41 Peaceful Protest Various Artists
RVNGNL44 Lex Visible Cloaks
RVNGNL43 Shelly's On Zenn-la Oliver Coates Album
RVNGNL46 2018 Anticlines Lucrecia Dalt Album
RVNGNL50 для FOR Kate NV Album

RVNG Prsnts Mxs series

Selected releases from the RVNG Prsnts Mxs series
Cat# Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
Mx1B 2003 Rvng Prsnts Mx1B: Julian S. Process Julian S. Process CD, 12" vinyl
Mx2 2004 Rvng Prsnts Mx2: Diabolic & Julian S. Process Julian S. Process, Diabolic CD, 12" vinyl
Mx3 2003 Rvng Prsnts Mx3: Tim Sweeney Tim Sweeney
Mx4 2005 Rvng Prsnts Mx4: Crazy Rhythms Crazy Rhythms
Mx5 2007 Rvng Prsnts Mx5: Justine D Justine D
Mx6 2008 Rvng Prsnts Mx6: JD Twitch JD Twitch Subtitled 60 Minutes of Fear
Mx6TEN Rvng Prsnts Mx6TEN: JD Twitch JD Twitch Subtitled 10 Inches of Fear
Mx7 2009 Rvng Prsnts Mx7: Purple Brain Purple Brain
Mx7SEVEN Rvng Prsnts Mx7SEVEN: Purple Brain Purple Brain

RVNG OF THE NRDS series

Selected releases from the Rvng Of The Nrds series
Cat. # Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
NRDS01 2006 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 1 The Flying Squad 12" vinyl
NRDS02 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 2 Betty Botox 12" vinyl
NRDS03 2007 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 3 Mock & Toof 12" vinyl
NRDS04 2008 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 4 Lovefingers 12" vinyl
NRDS05 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 5 Wade Nichols 12" vinyl
NRDS06 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 6 Jacques Renault 12" vinyl
NRDS07 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 7 Greg Wilson 12" vinyl
NRDS08 2009 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 8 In Flagranti 12" vinyl
NRDS09 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 9 Jackpot 12" vinyl
NRDS10 2010 Rvng of the Nrds Vol. 10 Pilooski 12" vinyl

FRKWYS Series

Selected releases from the FRKWYS Series
Cat. # Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
FRKWYS02 2009 FRKWYS Vol. 2 Carter Tutti, JG Thirlwell 12" + MP3
FRKWYS03 2010 FRKWYS Vol. 3 Arp, Anthony Moore 12" + MP3
FRKWYS04 FRKWYS Vol. 4 Psychic Ills 12" + MP3
FRKWYS05 2011 FRKWYS Vol. 5 Mirror Mirror 12" + MP3
FRKWYS06 FRKWYS Vol. 6 Julianna Barwick, Ikue Mori
FRKWYS07 FRKWYS Vol. 7 David Borden, James Ferraro, Sam Godin, Laurel Halo, Daniel Lopatin
FRKWYS08 FRKWYS Vol. 8 Blues Control, Laraaji
FRKWYS09 2012 FRKWYS Vol. 9 Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras and The Congos ICON GIVE THANK
FRKWYS10 2013 FRKWYS Vol. 10 David Van Tieghem x Ten Fits & Starts
FRKWYS11 2014 FRKWYS Vol. 11 Steve Gunn & Mike Cooper Cantos de Lisboa
FRKWYS12 2015 FRKWYS Vol. 12 Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe & Ariel Kalma We Know Each Other Somehow
FRKWYS13 2016 FRKWYS Vol. 13 Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Suzanne Ciani Sunergy
FRKWYS14 2018 FRKWYS Vol. 14 Tashi Wada with Yoshi Wada and Friends Nue
FRKWYS15 2019 FRKWYS Vol. 15 Visible Cloaks, Yoshio Ojima & Satsuki Shibano serenitatem
FRKWYS16 2020 FRKWYS Vol. 16 Ian William Craig & Daniel Lentz In a Word

Beats in Space series

Selected releases from the BIS series
Cat# Yr Single title Artist(s) Notes
BIS001 2011 "Parfait Tirage" Paradis 12", mp3
BIS002 2012 "Nebula Sphynx" Secret Circuit
BIS003 "Hemisphere" Paradis [14]
BIS004 "Macsat Ring Down" Lauer
BIS005 2013 "Afterlife" Secret Circuit
BIS006 Tactile Galactics Secret Circuit
BIS007 "Sum of Love" Jee Day
BIS008 Desperate Pleasures EP Tornado Wallace
BIS009 "The Noughties" Gonno
BIS010 "Break the Dawn" Crystal & S. Koshi
BIS011 2014 Domino EP Dukes of Chutney
BIS012 So What EP Hidden Fees
BIS013 "Holding On" House of Spirits
BIS014 "So You Say" Matt Karmil
BIS015 "Yin Yang Theatre" Jaakko Eino Kalevi
BIS016 "Gin 'n' Tears" Guiddo feat. Georges Perin
BIS017 "Hands & Feet" Lauer
BIS018 2015 "Kangaroo Ground / Ferntree Gully" Tornado Wallace
BIS019 Palmbomen II Palmbomen II
BIS020 2016 "Shoot the Freak" T & P
BIS021 Beats in Space 15th Anniversary Mix Tim Sweeney Mix of previous releases
BIS022 BIS: 001–020 Various artists Collection of previous releases
BIS023 Primavera EP Antenna
BIS024 "Memories of Cindy Pt. 1" Palmbomen II
BIS025 "(Eerie) For Your Love" Mount Liberation Unlimited
BIS026 "Good to Me" Shan
BIS027 2017 "Dawning Light" Jacques Bon
BIS028 "Memories of Cindy Pt. 2" Palmbomen II
BIS029 2018 "Memories of Cindy Pt. 3" Palmbomen II
BIS031 Memories of Cindy Palmbomen II
BIS032 Who Are You E Ruscha V
BIS032 Midnight Markers Shy Layers
BIS032 Woo are you E Ruscha V. And Woo

RERVNG series

Selected releases from the RERVNG series
Cat# Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
RERVNG01 2011 Synthesist / Re-Synthesist Harald Grosskopf / Various artists
RERVNG02 2012 Music Is Painting in the Air (1974-1977) Sensations' Fix
RERVNG03 2014 A Period of Review (1975-1983) K. Leimer
RERVNG04 Anthology of Interplanetary Folk Music vol. 1: Nommos / Visiting Craig Leon
RERVNG05 An Evolutionary Music (1972–1979) Ariel Kalma
RERVNG07 2015 Artificial Dance Savant
RERVNG06 2016 Breadwoman & Other Tales Anna Homler and Steve Moshier
RERVNG08 Tumblers from the Vault (1970–1972) Syrinx
RERVNG10 2017 Trans-Millenia Music Pauline Anna Strom
RERVNG11 2018 Few Traces Mark Renner

Commend See series

Selected releases from the Commend See series
Cat# Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
CMMND001 2016 For Haku RAMZi
CMMND002 Water Falls Into a Blank 7FO
CMMND003 2017 Parcel Melanie Velarde

Freedom to Spend series

Selected releases from the Freedom to Spend series
Cat# Yr Album title Artist(s) Notes
FTS001 2017 Eye Chant Michele Mercure
FTS002 Music Works for Industry Marc Barreca
FTS003 Poiemusia La Nau Dels Argonautes Pep Llopis
FTS004 Eros in Arabia Richard Horowitz
FTS009 2018 Music and Poetry of the Kesh Ursula K. Le Guin & Todd Barton

Further reading

Interviews
  • "Label Profile: FRKWYS". Fact Magazine. May 10, 2010.
  • "A potted history of RVNG Intl". Juno Download. May 30, 2012.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Label Profile: FRKWYS". Fact Magazine. May 10, 2010. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  2. ^ a b "Billboards counts 50 best indie labels in America, are big fans of Tri Angle". Dummy Magazine. August 16, 2011. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Mercer, Nik (May 30, 2012). "Human Resources, Zombie Invasions & Mean Librarians: A potted history of RVNG Intl". Juno Download. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  4. ^ a b "Artists". RVNG Intl. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  5. ^ a b c Adams, Sean. "Blondes - Blondes / Releases". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d "About RVNG Intl". RVNG Intl. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  7. ^ "Commend » Come! Mend!".
  8. ^ "Julia Holter: Ekstasis". Pitchfork Media. March 2, 2012. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  9. ^ Tolmach, Beth (March 19, 2014). "RVNG Intl. to Reissue Craig Leon Albums". Ad Hoc. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  10. ^ "RA Reviews: Excepter". Resident Advisor. September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
  11. ^ "ARP and Anthony Moore team up for Frkwys Vol.3". 17 March 2010. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  12. ^ "Simple Pleasures - Rvng Prsnts Frkwys Vol. 3. ARP and Anthony Moore". PopMatters. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  13. ^ "The Synthesis of Technology, Art and Music: Showcases". Moogfest: Asheville, North Carolina. 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
  14. ^ "Paradis - Hemisphere b/w Je M'ennui". RVNG Intl. 27 January 2023.
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