I don't really remember how I stumbled upon TIBProd just remember being fascinated by the vast depth and diversity of their online releases. At the time, as I recall, there was only one other netlabel (NoType) with a similar assortment available to all for download. I spent countless hours transferring MP3s by Chefkirk, Staplerfahrer, Iversen and Carl Kruger as well as a myriad of others to my hard drive on my painfully slow dial-up connection at home.
My patience was rewarded with adventurous music presented in numerous genres unlike any I had ever heard until then. I did not like every sound that issued forth from my speakers however all of it was interesting.
Recently, in the writing of this article, I have rekindled my deep affection for TIBProd. I have hunted through my vast mp3 archives and located several releases I had not listened to in a while. I downloaded several new releases in order to catch up with what Iversen and company have been up to. I also listened to several of the CDRs that I purchased through the TIBProd store: Staplerfahrer's SCSI VS ATA, Iversen's Gheye and The Book (Biblebabble), and Reconstruct II: Cadmium Dunkel Remixed. (At this point I must disclose that I appear on Reconstruct II as Part of Me:Apparatus and I am also listed in the artist section.)
The Reconstruct project is particularly interesting. This remix project allows for samples of the artists work to be used in a new track and submitted to TIBprod. After the deadline Iverson and the artist pick the best of the bunch and release a CDR of the results. Iversen, Cadmium Dunkel and Swamps Up Nostrils have all been remixed and released using this method.
I also connected with label-head Jan-M. Iversen via email to ask a few questions. What follows are his fairly unedited comments. Anything in brackets can be attributed to me.
What is the labels history? When did it start, etc.?
"My first newsposting on www.tibprod.com was dated 25 January 2003 so I guess you could say that the label started then. Though, it did start earlier, not as a label but as a thought. I began working on it back when my daughter was (about to be) born... and I was also unemployed at the time. I started connecting with people, doing musical collaborations, checking out other
weblabels...www.mahorka.tk was (the way it was designed back then) my inspiration. No info, just the music. I wanted the music to be enough. I didn't want fancy label-descriptions, pictures and stuff to sell the music, I wanted to promote the music with only the actual music itself. (the main center shall be the music itself, as Conrad Schnitzler said it...)"
[he added this as well]
"oh, and it is spelled TIBProd.
"There was to guys at highschool, haavard and jan-m. they had, together with a few on/off guys, a metal/death-band called Tuesdays In Black. When turning into a more electronic/techno-like band around '93-'94 Tuesdays In Black was shortened to T.I.B. and the term "TIBProduction" came about as a result of that. So, T.I.B. Productions. would be the correct but it just looks better on logos and such to spell it TIBProd. But most people get it wrong. Not that it bothers me, its more like it amuses me. What's a name anyway? But when talking it should be pronounced "tee-eye-bee prod"."
Why did you choose a free netlabel and paid release approach?
"To start with tibprod was a netlabel only. I used, back in the days, that mp3.com-site a lot, and found that to be a really good way to promote music. So I thought, "how about doing the same thing" only without commercials, banners, pop-ups and such. And without it being open for everyone. (because mp3.com was of course 98% crap.) So I began to invite artists I liked...nothing [is]ever released unless I like it...Then suddenly realised that there was a kind of cdr-scene out there and just felt like doing that as well, see how it would go. I try to keep the price as low as possible, I'm not in it for the money... "
Is the label closely associated with any insitution or school?
"No, it isn't. some of the artists might be but not the label. I'm sure there could be good things coming from working with institutions and such but the only way I could be able to run this label is to be totally free, to whatever I want, whenever.. but, I'm open for suggestions."
What genres are associated with the label?
"I guess experimental electronic things, noise, drones, clicks and such..."
Is there a philosophy behind your approach?
"I guess "the main center shall be the music itself" is a philosophy. Music is made to be heard, better to get it out to people, mp3, home-made cdr's and tapes, trade them/give them away, than to send demos to various uninterested labels around the world. To find new and interesting music you need to look away from the money"
How do you decide what releases are free and which are released through your webstore?
"Some people send demos for mp3-release, and so I release as mp3. (Or I request for mp3-release.) [after submitting a remix for Reconstruct II Jan asked me to submit more music some people send demos for cd and I release as cd if I like it. (or I request for cd-release.) Cd and mp3 are to me equal so it's all about what the artist would prefer, and what format would fit the best. "
Of your releases (esp. online) which would you recommend as representative of TIBProd's approach?
-MP3-Single 81, cadmium dunkel - trenody for the victims of religion, part 1
-MP3-Single 79, the domestic front - dissipation 24:24
-anything from Chefkirk, Sound_00, Staplerfahrer, Guignol Dangereux, OZKA and Carl Kruger. Oh, and Swamps Up Nostrils, of course.
If you know nothing about tibprod.com then this would be where I would tell them to start. If none of this does it for you then tibprod doesn't do it for you. I think/guess."
What are your future plans for the label?
"Find more good music and release it. But maybe a bit more mp3's and a bit less cd's for a while. Cd's can be a lot of work. MP3's is easy. Just upload to the server, update the website and...I have a daughter that gets more more demanding every day. There has been many days where I've felt bad because I've been printing cd-covers or cd's or something instead of playing with Barbie, painting, reading, going for walks and whatever it is a good father does..."
If you can think of anything else to add that would be very helpful.
"Listen.
Listen to the silence.
I bet, if you do, you'll realize that you've never lived a silent minute in your life.
Listen.
Listen to the noise.
I bet, if you do, you'll see that even in the noise there is music.
Listen."
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