>> Kajmere
bio: In late 2002, in the midst of a music business downsizing and downloading frenzy, in the face of major labels losing touch with their support base, the Kajmere Sound Founders decided to embark on a journey to establish a progressive independent label.
One of the Kajmere Sound Founders, Carlos "Loslito" Guaico, a working musician (who produced and co-wrote with Black Eyed Peas, Kim Hill and Ozomatli), realized that in order to be heard in the current music landscape, one must take initiative. Disillusioned with industry politics, Loslito ventured into event promotions for six years, nurturing various music sub-cultures in Los Angeles, including: "The Root Down", "MORE Fridays", "Bounce Rock Skate", and the annual "Thanks Givends Benefit" event, among many others. These influential clubs became the first stop for up-and-coming artists to pave their own road, to a progressive independent future. Jurassic 5, Black Eyed Peas, DJ Shadow, Macy Gray, Blackalicious, and Breakestra, would be but a few of the names that got their start in this enduring L.A. movement.
As the club movement grew, Loslito was also performing around the world with Breakestra. He was often hiding out in back rooms developing his idea for creating the quintessential soul band, The Rebirth. After years of playing and promoting clubs, Loslito believed that the time was right to take a risk — record one song by the group, release it as the first Kajmere Sound Recordings title to the tastemakers of the soul world, that he was now tight with through the club network, and see what they had to say. Originally only released on a CD single, the track "This Journey In," was immediately championed by King Britt and licensed for inclusion on the Japanese compilation, "Black to the Future". Gilles Peterson, hearing "This Journey In" on King’s comp, started airing the song on his Worldwide program in London, then licensed it for HIS compilation "Trust The DJ 4". The ball was officially rolling for The Rebirth and the band’s new record label, Kajmere Sound Recordings.
Joseph Davidian, an entrepreneur and friend of Loslito, had observed the beginnings of the project and recognized the potential of this multifaceted small business that was being built. With his pledge of partnership, the "project” became a company; and with Davidian's initial investment, the company recorded and manufactured its first three releases: 12" singles for The Rebirth, Strange Fruit Project, and Motion Lab.
While on tour in Europe with Breakestra in 2001, Artist Manager, DJ, and Music Supervisor, Charles Raggio, heard the demo of This Journey In” on the tour bus; and weeks later requested to license the song, for inclusion on his forthcoming Impeach the Precedent" benefit compilation. Raggio soon became a label consultant for Kajmere Sound Recordings, before eventually partnering officially with Joseph and Loslito in 2002, to lay the foundation for the label.
Kajmere Sound had officially opened its doors. Now the challenge was to find worldwide distribution partners for its now, well received soul and hip hop releases. Despite the growing success of "This Journey In" at radio around the globe, doors to a distribution company remained elusive. While the search ensued, direct sales to key independent stores around the world became part of the everyday operation.
Shortly there after, a follow-up tour through the United Kingdom was scheduled for Breakestra. The agenda was to use this opportunity to open new retail accounts in the U.K. for Kajmere Sound. DJ's Haul and Mason, fans of The Root Down, got wind of the plan and requested that Loslito and Raggio bring along some of the new Haul and Mason 12" vinyl creation, "Afro-Heat Volume 1". The first stop was Manchester, England. Armed with contacts at local stores, and carrying all three Kajmere Sound releases, plus "Afro-Heat #1" and the new Breakestra 7", Loslito and Charles looked liked confused UPS men- or traveling yankee backpackers- going store to store. After walking out of the third location with no remaining stock, one thing was clear—the idea of Kajmere Sound becoming an international distribution entity was now a reality. The next move in Manchester that day was a phone call to the office in the States requesting for product to be shipped to England immediately.
Upon returning home, the push was on to develop the distribution end of the company; thus assuring Kajmere Sound’s total independence. To delineate between the record label, Kajmere Sound Recordings; and the events production and marketing entity, Kajmere Sound; the partners formed Kajmere Sound Distribution or KSD Music, and the distribution entity of the company was born. Thus began the hard work and the fabled story of the independent label taking product to the streets and selling records out of the trunk of a car.
Loslito and Charles loaded up the Honda Element with 1,500 records and traveled from San Diego to as far north as Vancouver, Canada, selling product; meeting face to face with buyers, often discussing common friends and contacts that were born through the clubs in L.A. This was a powerful sales method, and it worked. By the time another distributor finally reached out to Kajmere Sound with interest in its releases, KSD Music had already set up accounts throughout the West Coast of North America. For the next year, sales trips with stops in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Nevada were completed. During this time, the catalog grew from four label releases to over 100 within a year’s time, and the database of stores swelled to over 1,000. Three ½ years later Kajmere Sound has 16 label releases and over 300 catalog items under the KSD Music wing (garnering approximately 100 new titles yearly), and sells to over 2,000 stores worldwide.
What Kajmere Sound has created is not groundbreaking or new; but Kajmere has systematically adapted its methodology to today's changing mind-set, creating a new paradigm for an uncertain climate. Revenue streams have not to only come from CD and vinyl sales, but also through licensing opportunities, and particularly digital downloads. Kajmere has structured itself as a partner to the artist. The company allows artists to view the process firsthand to have a better understanding of what "activity" truly costs and the time it takes to accomplish the goals. At the end of the day, artists truly do not want to be inundated with the details, they want to create; but this openness embodies something of even higher value—trust.
The demographic for commercial radio and television narrows everyday, while the ardent demographic for music of substance continues to grow. The scalable structure that Kajmere Sound has created is rather simple: Kajmere releases the music, the DJ’s spin the digital format/cd or vinyl at our events or on their independent radio shows. The public listens, and inquires where they can get it. The buyers of the stores have heard it via the sales staff. The artist then performs at our events, furthering the alliance. This platform grows exponentially from state to state, country to county with like-minded individuals gathering around for a piece of the pie.
Kajmere Sound is a catalyst in connecting the dots in the independent music world. It is a company interested in supporting art forms that speak from the heart and soul. Kajmere Sound supports the progression of a soulful underground community.
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