The
venture is designed as a standalone infrastructure for Irish artists
and labels, combining a shop that will stock only Irish records with a
label arm set to reissue out-of-print landmarks, release new music, and
provide distribution and backend services for selected small
independents. Coll, Roe (Adebisi Shank, Richter Collective) and Allen
(Faction Records) are positioning Inis – – the Irish word for island or isle – as a response to a longstanding
gap.
“Inis
Records is about providing an independent label infrastructure in
Ireland, giving Irish music a platform to grow, and create unique
physical music for Irish artists,” Coll said in a press statement. “We want to create truly
special vinyl runs, reissue some older gems, and support the next wave of
Irish music. Ireland needs a stronger independent music infrastructure
and our goal with Inis is to achieve that.”
The store will carry Irish music across every era and genre, while the label’s first pre-order offering is a reissue of Against Nature,
the out-of-print 1989 album by cult art-rock group Fatima Mansions.
Later in the year, Inis will release a traditional music compilation
assembled by Coll, a showband compilation curated by Charles Hendy of
the Mary Wallopers, and further reissues the founders describe as important Irish albums that deserve renewed attention.
Roe,
who ran Richter Collective during a fertile period for Irish guitar
music, underlined the wider structural motivation. “Ireland has such a
rich history of amazing artists and labels,” he said. “Over the last 30
years though, we have relied heavily on infrastructure from outside the
country. We hope Inis Records can help build a stronger independent
music infrastructure here, giving a generation of new artists and labels
the support they need to grow their businesses in Ireland, while
reaching audiences internationally.”
Allen,
whose Faction Records roster includes Sorcha Richardson, James Vincent
McMorrow, and Niamh Regan, pointed to the volume of emerging Irish talent
as a reason the timing feels right. “I’ve worked in the Irish music
industry for many years and each year there are so many brilliant new
artists that emerge onto the scene,” he said. “The timing feels right to
launch this label that will shine a light on forgotten gems and support
the most exciting acts we have in Ireland today.”
The
founders stress that human curation will sit at the centre of the
operation. The shop offers
rack space to independent and rising artists who don’t have their own
distribution.
