LABEL MANAGER / A&R / LICENSING:
Ewan McKenzie
platformrecords@themusicelevator.com
A&R:
Jon Inglis
Please submit finished productions only. No demos please.
© 2024 The Music Elevator
A new subsidiary imprint was formed in summer 2007 - PLATFORM RECORDS - which also offered a label service to artists. First release was by THE SHERMANS , their debut single Calling it wrong (FORM1) reaching UK indie chart no 23. NATASHA ENGLAND 's UK top 10 single also got a re-release on Platform. Iko Iko (FORM2), a summer hit in 1982, has sold almost one million copies worldwide, and Platform are delighted to have given this classic it's first ever digital outing.
BIG LIFE DESIRE aka the multi-talented Keith Harbottle issued his debut album dribs and drabs in the latter part of 2008 (FORMCD2), another Platform release. This followed NATASHA ENGLAND's 42 track double cd anthology Back from the mists of time (FORMCD1) which contained her complete set of 80's recordings, delighting fans who'd waited 2 decades to see her vinyl albums transferred to cd for the first time.
Platform and sister label Whimsical expanded from their Edinburgh birthplace into London towards the end of '08, and saw their first new Whimsical signing in 2 years with new wave 4 piece THE FIRM recording 2 tracks for their debut single (and video) Dismal Results (ICAL8), released on March 9th 2009.
JACK BUTLER (who were signed to Whimsical in 2006 and charted with debut single 'Velvet Prose') returned in December '08 with the single 'Are you a hustler?' (ICAL7), which is taken from their debut long-player 'Fit the paradigm' (ICALCD3) - released on 27th April 2009 to much critical acclaim. The album was included in the initial shortlist for the XFM New Music Award 2010. Lead track and single 'Hit it out the park, son' (ICAL9) was licensed to the Realtime Worlds video game APB ('All Points Bulletin'), due for release in March 2010. A third single from the set, 'Surgery 1984' (ICAL10), came out on October 12th '09.
Further Platform releases during 2009 came from Stirling five-piece THE ENCIERRO - their debut 3 track single on cd and download - 'Be Yourself' (FORM6), the debut 2 track release from indie pop combo VEGAS NIGHTS - 'Touch and Feel' (FORM5), and a second single from The Shermans - 'Venom' (3 track cd single/download) (FORM4) reaching the UK independent chart top 10, and number 7 in Scotland.
In 2010 Natasha England released her first new album in 25 years, a collaboration with innovative producer Robert Logan (Grace Jones/Sugababes). 'Deeper Into Reality' (FORMCD3R) - an experimental and electronic release spawned the singles 'Stop Doing Nothing' (FORM7R) and 'Darkside' (NE1), the latter being licensed to the independent film 'The Last Days Of Edgar Harding'.
A new business THEMUSICELEVATOR was also set up in 2010, this offering artists a release co-ordination service along with plugging to webzines and radio.
As a celebration of the first 12 years, 'The Best Of Whimsical' (ICALCD4) appeared in 2011, featuring 21 tracks from the catalogues of Platform and Whimsical Records.
The debut single from Edinburgh's THE OK SOCIAL CLUB was released on Platform Records, March 12th 2012. The lead track 'The Shape Of Things To Come' won Steve Lamacq's Rebel Playlist competition on BBC6 Music and became 'single of the month' on BBC Radio Scotland's Janice Forsyth show. Follow up single 'The Late 90's' appeared on July 9th, with the video featuring on Channel 4 and MTV.
The late singer-songwriter SUSAN FASSBENDERs collection of early recordings (along with collaborator KAY RUSSELL) featuring the original demo of 1981 hit single 'Twilight Cafe' was released as a download album by Platform Records on April 2nd 2012. Record Collector Magazine highlighted the release in glowing terms and Pennyblack called it ''one of the best collection of songs you will hear all year''.
Also during 2012, West Lothian band DEAD SEA SOULS signed to Platform for publishing of songs on their acclaimed album 'We Were Always Electric' which also spawned the Platform/Big Rock Candy single 'Trendsetter', released November 15th. The year rounded off with The Ok Social Club performing in front of thousands at the world's biggest street party - Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.
The debut album from The Ok Social Club 'Nothing In Common' came out on Platform which coincided with the band winning 'Best Live Act' at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2013. Emporium released a new Whimsical Records single 'Magical Things' from their 'The Afterlife' album on November 11th, and following inclusion on the Sony V/A Compilation 'Candy Candy', Natasha England's hit version of 'Iko Iko' was licensed to the Cattleya / Warner Bros. film 'Un Boss In Salotto', released on January 1st 2014. The film earned over 12 million euros at the box office, and became the highest grossing Italian film of the year.