Kindercore Records is an independent record label

Independent record label

An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...

 based in Athens, Georgia

Athens, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...

, which was founded in 1996

1996 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...

 by Ryan Lewis and Daniel Geller to document the emerging music scene in Athens, Georgia

Athens, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...

.

Their first release was a cassette compilation called "The Treble Revolution", which sold out in a week. This release was followed by Kindercore's first vinyl 7" by kincaid

Kincaid

-People:*April Kincaid , U.S. professional wrestler and model*Aron Kincaid , U.S. voice actor*Bradley Kincaid , U.S. folk singer and radio entertainer*Charles Augustus Kincaid, co-author of "The History of the Maratha People"...

.

Subsequent 7" singles were released including The Mendoza Line

The Mendoza Line (band)

The Mendoza Line were a rock and roll band whose members began playing together while in college in the mid-1990s in Athens, Georgia, and who eventually settled in Brooklyn. Their name comes from the dismal .200 batting average of Mario Mendoza...

, Masters of the Hemisphere

Masters of the Hemisphere

Masters of the Hemisphere are an American indie pop group, founded by Bren Mead and Sean Rawls. The two moved to Athens, Georgia, to attend college in 1996. There they met Ryan Lewis, co-founder of Kindercore Records, who played drums at the first Masters of the Hemisphere show. Jeff Griggs ...

, and others.

Although Kindercore was often called "indiepop" by many, the label soon added the hip-hop influenced Kitty Craft to their roster (Kindercore's first Top 10 record at college radio), along with the alt-country tinged instrumental group, Japancakes

Japancakes

-History:Rhythm guitarist Eric Berg formed the band with the idea of putting ten musicians in a band without any rehearsal, and performing a D chord for 45 minutes . He continued performances with numerous instrumentalists before releasing their first recording If I Could See Dallas on Kindercore...

. Also coming on board at that time was the restrained and acoustic based band, Vermont, a side project of The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring

The Promise Ring is an American emo band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In their early years, their music was usually classified as emo, but their later albums could be described more accurately as indie pop. They split up in 2002 and temporarily reunited in 2005...

.

With these new bands, Kindercore began to gain national attention. The label was approached by Emperor Norton Records

Emperor Norton Records

Emperor Norton Records, was a Los Angeles-based electronica, hip-hop, and dance-music record label. Among the artists featured on the label were Ladytron, Arling & Cameron, Money Mark, Ugly Duckling, and Fantastic Plastic Machine...

 who provided financial backing. With this support, Kindercore continued to sign talented artists from around the world, including Britain’s Birdie, Denver's Dressy Bessy

Dressy Bessy

Dressy Bessy is an indie rock band from Denver, Colorado, associated with the Elephant Six Collective. Guitarist John Hill also plays with The Apples in Stereo. Lead vocalist/guitarist Tammy Ealom formed the band with drummer Darren Albert and guitarist turned bassist Rob Greene in 1996. The name...

 and San Francisco

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

’s Call and Response. In 2000, Spin Magazine named Kindercore the year’s “indie label to watch”.

In 2000, Kindercore hosted the Athens Expo 2000, a showcase for their friends and bands that lasted for three days and drew visitors from all over the world to their hometown of Athens, GA.

In 2002, Kindercore's agreement with Emperor Norton came to an end, and Kindercore entered into an agreement with The Telegraph Company. Geller and Lewis decided that they wanted to continue to broaden the scope of Kindercore's sound by signing new artists that reflected their evolving tastes. These included Maserati

Maserati (band)

Maserati is a band from Athens, Georgia, United States whose sound is best described as a combination of post-rock and psychedelic influences. Their music is instrumental, relying on the standard rock instrumentation of guitar, bass, and drums...

, Jet By Day

Jet by Day

-History:Jet by Day was originally formed as the Hosstages in 1997 by guitarist David Matysiak, bassist Bo Wamsley and drummer Tom Naumann, while the three were students at Dunwoody High School in suburban Atlanta. In 1998 they changed their name to Jet By Day, and Matysiak and Naumann began...

, and Paper Lions

Paper Lions

Paper Lions is a Canadian indie rock band, formed in Belfast, Prince Edward Island in 2004 by singer and guitarist John MacPhee, drummer David Cyrus MacDonald, guitarist Colin Buchanan and bass guitarist Rob MacPhee. John and Rob MacPhee are brothers, and Buchanan grew up next door to them. They...

.

The relationship between Telegraph and Kindercore came to an abrupt end in October 2003 with a series of contradictory press releases about the fate of the company, alternately released by both Stan Hartman and Jerod Gunsberg. The press releases caused much confusion in the independent music community, and it quickly came to light that Geller and Lewis had little control over the company they had founded. Lewis and Geller took legal action and regained control over the Kindercore catalog.

Lewis and Geller continue to live in Athens, GA. Lewis is a columnist for the Athens Banner Herald

Athens Banner Herald

The Athens Banner-Herald is a 32,000 circulation newspaper in Athens, Georgia, owned by Morris Communications.The newspaper traces its history to the Southern Banner newspaper that first published on March 20, 1832....

 and plays music. Geller continues to work with his band I Am The World Trade Center

I Am the World Trade Center

I Am the World Trade Center is a synth-pop duo consisting of musician Daniel Geller and vocalist Amy Dykes. Geller creates almost all of the music using his laptop, occasionally using drum machines, keyboards, or other instruments.-History:Daniel Geller co-founded Kindercore Records with Ryan...

 and works as a bio-diesel researcher for the University of Georgia

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...

.

In August 2007 the Kindercore website was revamped to reflect the label's rebirth.

The following recording artists have recently released material on other labels: Of Montreal

Of Montreal

Of Montreal is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance with a woman "of Montreal." The band is one of the bands of the Elephant 6 collective...

 is now on Polyvinyl Records

Polyvinyl Record Co.

Polyvinyl Record Co. is an American independent record label based in Champaign, Illinois. It has released notable records by of Montreal, Japandroids, Braid, Mates of State and many others.-History:...

, Dressy Bessy

Dressy Bessy

Dressy Bessy is an indie rock band from Denver, Colorado, associated with the Elephant Six Collective. Guitarist John Hill also plays with The Apples in Stereo. Lead vocalist/guitarist Tammy Ealom formed the band with drummer Darren Albert and guitarist turned bassist Rob Greene in 1996. The name...

 released "Electrified" on Transdreamer Records, I Am The World Trade Center

I Am the World Trade Center

I Am the World Trade Center is a synth-pop duo consisting of musician Daniel Geller and vocalist Amy Dykes. Geller creates almost all of the music using his laptop, occasionally using drum machines, keyboards, or other instruments.-History:Daniel Geller co-founded Kindercore Records with Ryan...

 released "The Cover Up" on Gammon Records, Maserati

Maserati (band)

Maserati is a band from Athens, Georgia, United States whose sound is best described as a combination of post-rock and psychedelic influences. Their music is instrumental, relying on the standard rock instrumentation of guitar, bass, and drums...

 is now on Hello Sir Records, Jet By Day

Jet by Day

-History:Jet by Day was originally formed as the Hosstages in 1997 by guitarist David Matysiak, bassist Bo Wamsley and drummer Tom Naumann, while the three were students at Dunwoody High School in suburban Atlanta. In 1998 they changed their name to Jet By Day, and Matysiak and Naumann began...

 is now on Future Farmer Records

Future Farmer Records

Future Farmer Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California.Inspired by skateboarding culture Future Farmer was founded in 1996 by San Joaquin Valley natives Jeff Klindt and Dennis Mitchell.Former label member M...

, and Japancakes

Japancakes

-History:Rhythm guitarist Eric Berg formed the band with the idea of putting ten musicians in a band without any rehearsal, and performing a D chord for 45 minutes . He continued performances with numerous instrumentalists before releasing their first recording If I Could See Dallas on Kindercore...

 is now on Warm Records

Warm Records

Warm Electronic Recordings is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster.-Artists:*Azure Ray*Crooked Fingers*Elk City*Empire State*Japancakes*Liz Durrett...

.