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| cola freak |
The absence of authenticity in our world is painfully obvious. The herd mentality we are trapped in has killed organic movements and glamorized copy paste productions across the country. However, our hope isn't completely crushed just yet.
We got in touch with a group of artists in the San Diego area to help shed light on a community that encapsulates what it means to be independent.
Cola Freak Records features an ambitious range of music all carefully curated by uncompromising San Diego natives. Trit95's youthful and melancholy lyrics breathe new life into a classic 80's alternative sound while L4N P4R7Y gives us a new perspective on traditionally unapologetic thrash. Among all their various bands and styles of music lies a unitary vow towards authenticity.
Can you tell us a bit more about Cola Freak Records?Cola Freak Records features an ambitious range of music all carefully curated by uncompromising San Diego natives. Trit95's youthful and melancholy lyrics breathe new life into a classic 80's alternative sound while L4N P4R7Y gives us a new perspective on traditionally unapologetic thrash. Among all their various bands and styles of music lies a unitary vow towards authenticity.
Cola Freak Records is something I started doing a few years ago so I could release my friends’ music. It sorta came about cause there were all these rad bands that had little or no physical documentation of their existence. All I wanted to do was put out some tapes for bands that wouldn’t have done it themselves. The first few releases were all albums/songs that had already been put out years earlier online, but for me, had to be the first records I released. I wasn’t expecting anything from doing it and still don’t, other than documenting music.
It looks like local skate shops often support surrounding artists , how much of an influence would you say they have?
In San Diego, places like Gym Standard and Teros Gallery are the reason so many kids get to play music. There aren’t a lot of all-age venues here, and especially none that wanna facilitate a scene for kids. We definitely owe a lot to these places for their support. Without them, most bands would be stuck playing house shows and bars to a buncha lame adults sitting in the back drinking PBR and looking at their phones.
Would you say Cola Freak Records is a collaborative movement or a private collection of projects?
I would probably consider it more a collection of projects between me and my friends. It hasn’t ever really been a group effort, and I don’t think it’s really involved in the community. To me, going to shows to see bands gets you way more involved in the community than it does putting out a band’s record. Like, there are so many bands here in San Diego that there’s no way I could put them all out. OATMEAL, JINX, HEAT, SUSTIVITY, TAR PIT, MALINCHISTA, BATTERY POINT, KAN-KAN, SPIRITED AWAY, DIGI GURL the list is endless. I think it’s more important to go see these bands than to worry about the next release on the label.
Look out for new TRIT95 coming soon as well as VAQUERO debut album.
Cola Freak Records is more than just a group of friends, they symbolize a portion of the world that hasn't fallen for its faux antics in the music scene and instead embrace a growing movement exploding with passion and organic energy.
you can visit their band camp here and check out their soundcloud below