All right, let’s be real – no one frequently asks University of Space anything. We publicly announced the existence of USpace in the summer of 2023. But we’ve fielded some good questions so far, and here’s a selection.

Q: Is the University of Space a record label?

A: The University of Space is an independent multimedia arts entity in its earliest stages. The first stage is the launch of the University of Space Recording Company. USpace Records is a digital and tape label dedicated to the distribution and promotion of exciting new music from emerging acts with limited promotional resources. The goal, over time, for the University of Space is for it to grow into a larger umbrella organization. The form it will take will be dictated by the needs it chooses to try to fill. 

Q: Why did you start a record label?

A: We saw a need to basically gather and anchor like-minded musicians and fans who felt adrift after the pandemic reopenings in New York City. One way to fill that need is to give a name and/or a brand to this community that already exists, and to draw more people into that community. Starting a label is one way to do this. Name recognition is good for not only promoting and distributing recorded music, but for hosting live showcases and building relationships with music venues from which musicians within our orbit can benefit.

Q: Are you going to do vinyl?

A: At the moment, no. Listening to vinyl records is great, but vinyl is also quite expensive (and slow) to produce. The University of Space right now is focused on cassette releases, which are more cost-effective (especially to produce in smaller runs) and have a much faster turnaround time. With each release, we’ll need to consider demand for the physical product before determining the most appropriate format and number of copies for an initial run.

Q: What type of music do you release?

A: USpace is focused on melodic, high-energy music – in particular, garage rock, powerpop, and indiepop. This is basically the same format that guided the booking practices of Pet Rescue, the DIY space we ran prior to starting a label. 

Q: What’s your demo policy?

A: University of Space doesn’t really have a demo policy, as we don’t really have a need for one right now. We’ll be working primarily with bands we’ve already seen live, and we can’t really justify a physical release for an act that doesn’t play out. This renders demos kind of an unnecessary step; we’ll need to make a decision about releasing a recording based on the final product, what the act intends the public to hear. That said, we’re not only going to be putting out releases, we’re also going to be booking and promoting shows. So if you want to make an intro for gigging purposes, go ahead and send us some links to universityofspace at gmail dot com!

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