With great joy, we would like to announce the relaunch of Misra Records. In conjunction with this development, the label is offering the Misra Legacy Compilation Volume I at misrarecords.com. The artist-curated comp features favorite tracks from the Misra canon hand-chosen by artists from The Lemonheads, Deer Tick, Deerhoof, The Wrens, Wooden Wand, Drive By Truckers, Male Bonding, and more.
After a quiet 2010, the label is now under the management of Misra artist and partner Leo DeLuca. DeLuca plays drums in Misra band Southeast Engine, managed Misra imprint Moon Jaw Records, and runs the label out of Durham, NC. As of 2011, Chicago-based Bloodshot Records – home of albums by Ryan Adams, Neko Case, Justin Townes Earle, Jon Langford, Dex Romweber, and more will distribute Misra.
To highlight Misra’s new position as an artist-run entity, 2011’s first release will be Southeast Engine’s Canary – due out March 29. The Black Swans – the label’s newest signing – will follow shortly with their album Don’t Blame the Stars. In the early part of this year, U.K.’s Sleeping States will release In the Gardens of the North + Old vs. New + bonus material. The songs by both Southeast Engine and The Black Swans featured on the legacy comp appear there for the first time, and each will be on their new albums. 2011 will also see albums by Misra greats Summer Hymns, Timothy Bracy of The Mendoza Line’s new project Collection Agency, former Moon Jaw artists Theodore, Bears, Human Cannonball, and Joseph Remnant. Remnant, the illustrator of Harvey Pekar’s forthcoming posthumous book Cleveland, will release his comics alongside an album. Set for release later this year, The Misra Legacy Compilation Volume II will include artist-curated tracks from Shearwater, Bablicon, Evangelicals, Will Johnson, Jenny Toomey, South San Gabriel, and more.
All at Misra are extremely excited to be back in action. With Misra’s place already secured in the annals of independent music, we look forward to preserving and furthering its legacy. This is the label that introduced bands like Destroyer, Great Lake Swimmers, Shearwater, and Phosphorescent to the world; an institution that forged a troubled industry to bring you Centro-matic, Palomar, Sleeping States, Hallelujah the Hills, Southeast Engine, and more; an entity rooted in the strong belief that music has the curative power to inspire and change people for the better. The Misra legacy will continue.
