Mexican Summer
A Brooklyn-based independent music label and cultural publisher associated with experimental, psychedelic, ambient, and alternative music.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Mexican Summer is an independent record label and broader cultural publishing operation based in Brooklyn, New York. Founded by Keith Abrahamsson and Andres Santo Domingo in 2009, the label developed from a subscription project that began in 2008 with limited-edition, carefully packaged vinyl releases. Its name comes from the song “Mexican Summer” by Marissa Nadler. Rather than concentrating on one narrowly defined genre, the company has built a catalogue spanning experimental pop, psychedelic rock, indie rock, folk, ambient music, electronic music, jazz, archival recordings, and other forms of left-field culture. The label’s first release was Dungen’s 12-inch single “Sätt Att Se,” issued in September 2008. Early additions to its catalogue included recordings by Washed Out, Real Estate, Kurt Vile, The Tallest Man on Earth, Ariel Pink, Best Coast, and other artists who later became prominent within independent music. Best Coast’s 2010 debut album “Crazy for You” became one of the label’s most visible successes. Mexican Summer subsequently released or distributed important work by artists including Weyes Blood, Jessica Pratt, Cate Le Bon, Allah-Las, Connan Mockasin, Warpaint, Tamaryn, No Joy, and the Alps. Physical music culture has remained central to the organization. In 2009, Mexican Summer participated in the opening of Co-Op 87, a record shop in Greenpoint operated with other labels. Gary’s Electric, a recording studio, was established at the same location in 2011. In 2019, the organization opened Brooklyn Record Exchange in Bushwick, extending its retail presence. The label’s catalogue has grown to more than 200 releases across physical and digital formats, while its United States distribution has been handled through AMPED Distribution and its United Kingdom and European distribution through Integral. Mexican Summer also operates related imprints and publishing initiatives. Software Recording Co., created with Kemado Records in 2011 and active until 2016, concentrated on experimental electronic and dance music under the direction of Daniel Lopatin, also known as Oneohtrix Point Never. Anthology Recordings, founded by Abrahamsson in 2004 and later associated with Mexican Summer, specializes in archival and reissue projects. In 2016, Anthology expanded into books through Anthology Editions, an independent Brooklyn-based imprint devoted largely to music, art, photography, counterculture, and related subjects. The company’s activities extend beyond releases. Since 2014, Mexican Summer and Ballroom Marfa have organized Marfa Myths, an annual festival and multidisciplinary cultural program in Marfa, Texas. The event has combined concerts, exhibitions, talks, and other collaborations, presenting both established and emerging artists. In 2018, Mexican Summer marked its tenth anniversary with “A Decade Deeper,” an all-day festival at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. The organization is therefore best understood not only as a record label but as an independent cultural platform connecting music, archival work, publishing, retail, live programming, and visual art.
History
Mexican Summer originated in the late 2000s from an effort to present music through limited, highly designed physical editions. The subscription service began in fall 2008, and its first documented release was Dungen’s 12-inch single “Sätt Att Se,” issued on September 2 of that year. Keith Abrahamsson described the project as an attempt to develop artists in a different way, with the presentation and collectability of the object forming part of the label’s identity. The company is generally identified as having been founded in 2009 by Abrahamsson and Andres Santo Domingo. The label’s early catalogue combined emerging independent artists with releases that crossed conventional genre boundaries. Washed Out, Real Estate, Kurt Vile, and The Tallest Man on Earth were among the early artists associated with the catalogue. Mexican Summer’s profile grew substantially through releases by Best Coast, Ariel Pink, Allah-Las, and others. Best Coast’s 2010 debut album, “Crazy for You,” became an important commercial and cultural breakthrough for the label. The company continued to build a reputation for selecting music that connected psychedelic traditions, experimental pop, indie rock, electronic textures, and outsider or archival sensibilities. Its infrastructure expanded alongside its catalogue. In October 2009, Mexican Summer helped establish Co-Op 87, a Greenpoint record store operated with several other labels. Gary’s Electric recording studio followed at the same site in 2011. In March 2019, the organization opened Brooklyn Record Exchange in Bushwick, reinforcing its interest in physical music retail. By the later 2010s, the catalogue had exceeded 200 releases in multiple formats. Distribution was arranged in the United States through AMPED Distribution and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Integral. In 2011, Mexican Summer and Kemado Records created Software Recording Co., an imprint led by Daniel Lopatin. Software concentrated on experimental electronic and dance music and issued projects including the collaborative “Channel Pressure” by Lopatin and Joel Ford. Its final album was Thug Entrancer’s “Arcology,” released in 2016. Mexican Summer also developed Anthology Recordings as a reissue imprint. Anthology’s catalogue has included rediscoveries and archival editions connected to artists such as Linda Perhacs, Trad Gras Och Stenar, Pharoah Sanders, Robert Lester Folsom, Norma Tanega, and others. Anthology Recordings expanded into publishing in 2016 through Anthology Editions. The book imprint broadened the organization’s cultural remit, publishing illustrated and archival works about music, photography, art, technology, counterculture, and creative communities. Its authors and contributors have included Lou Reed, Jonas Mekas, Joan E. Biren, Dennis Stock, Jerry Hsu, Ed Emberley, Jim Jarmusch, and other artists and writers. Mexican Summer’s live and curatorial activity developed through Marfa Myths, an annual festival and multidisciplinary program organized with Ballroom Marfa since 2014. Held in Marfa, Texas, the program has presented artists including Roky Erickson, Annette Peacock, Pharoah Sanders, Kelsey Lu, Deerhunter, Amen Dunes, No Age, and Wire. In November 2018, the label held “A Decade Deeper” at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn, bringing together a broad selection of associated performers. These activities demonstrate the label’s evolution from a vinyl subscription project into a platform combining recorded music, reissues, books, retail, studio work, and contemporary arts programming.
- 2019
Brooklyn Record Exchange opens
[1]A second Mexican Summer-associated record store opened in Bushwick.
- 2018
A Decade Deeper anniversary festival
[1]Mexican Summer celebrated its tenth anniversary with a festival at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn.
- 2016
Anthology Editions launches
[1]Anthology Recordings expanded into book publishing through Anthology Editions.
- 2016
Software Recording Co. ends
[1]The imprint issued its final album, Thug Entrancer’s “Arcology.”
- 2014
Marfa Myths begins
[1]Mexican Summer and Ballroom Marfa began their annual music and multidisciplinary arts program in Marfa, Texas.
- 2011
Gary’s Electric studio established
[1]The label established a recording studio at the Co-Op 87 location.
- 2011
Software Recording Co. launched
[1]Mexican Summer and Kemado Records created an electronic and experimental music subsidiary.
- 2010
Best Coast releases Crazy for You
[1]Best Coast’s debut album became one of Mexican Summer’s most prominent releases.
- 2009
Mexican Summer formally founded
[1]Keith Abrahamsson and Andres Santo Domingo founded the Brooklyn independent label.
- 2009
Co-Op 87 opens
[1]Mexican Summer joined other labels in opening the Co-Op 87 record store in Greenpoint.
Products and positioning
An artist-focused independent music and cultural platform emphasizing adventurous, collectible, and historically informed work across experimental pop, psychedelic, alternative, electronic, ambient, folk, and archival music.
Record label · 2008
Mexican Summer recorded-music catalogue
The core business is the release and distribution of music by independent artists. The catalogue covers experimental pop, psychedelic and indie rock, folk, ambient, electronic, jazz, and related forms. Releases have appeared on vinyl and other physical formats as well as digitally, with an emphasis on distinctive artist development and presentation.
Reissue imprint · 2004
Anthology Recordings
Anthology Recordings is an archival reissue imprint founded by Keith Abrahamsson in 2004. It presents historically significant, obscure, and previously unavailable recordings, including work associated with Linda Perhacs, Trad Gras Och Stenar, Pharoah Sanders, Robert Lester Folsom, Norma Tanega, and other artists.
Book publishing imprint · 2016
Anthology Editions
Anthology Editions is a Brooklyn-based independent publisher launched as an expansion of Anthology Recordings. Its books commonly address music, photography, art, counterculture, technology, and creative history, combining archival material with substantial visual and editorial contributions.
Electronic music imprint · 2011
Software Recording Co.
Software Recording Co. was a subsidiary label operated with Kemado Records from 2011 through 2016. Directed by Daniel Lopatin, it focused on experimental electronic and dance music. Its catalogue included the Lopatin and Joel Ford collaboration “Channel Pressure” and Thug Entrancer’s “Arcology,” its final release.
Festival and arts program · 2014
Marfa Myths
Marfa Myths is an annual music festival and multidisciplinary cultural program organized with Ballroom Marfa. It presents concerts and other artistic activity in Marfa, Texas, linking Mexican Summer’s record-label work with contemporary art and place-based cultural programming.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018A Decade Deeper
United States
Mexican Summer marked its tenth anniversary with an all-day event at Pioneer Works in Red Hook, Brooklyn, drawing on the label’s artist and collaborator network.
Outcome. The anniversary program publicly emphasized the breadth of the label’s catalogue and its relationship with live performance and contemporary arts.
- 2014Marfa Myths
United States
Mexican Summer and Ballroom Marfa launched an annual festival and multidisciplinary program in Marfa, Texas, combining music with broader cultural and artistic events.
Outcome. The program became a recurring platform for established and emerging artists, including Roky Erickson, Pharoah Sanders, Deerhunter, No Age, and Wire.
Brand decisions
2019
Expand physical retail in BrooklynStrategyBackground
Mexican Summer had previously participated in the Co-Op 87 record-store project and maintained an interest in physical music culture.
Action taken
The organization opened Brooklyn Record Exchange in Bushwick.
Aftermath
The store provided a second Brooklyn retail outlet associated with the label’s physical-media activities.
2016
Extend Anthology into book publishingStrategyBackground
Anthology Recordings had established a body of archival music reissues and related cultural material.
Action taken
The organization launched Anthology Editions as a publishing expansion.
Aftermath
The imprint began publishing books focused on music, art, photography, counterculture, and creative history.
2014
Expand into festival and multidisciplinary programmingStrategyBackground
The label extended its cultural activities beyond recorded releases and physical music retail.
Action taken
Mexican Summer partnered with Ballroom Marfa to organize Marfa Myths in Texas.
Aftermath
Marfa Myths became an annual program connecting the label with live music and contemporary arts.
2011
Create Software Recording Co. for experimental electronic musicStrategyBackground
Mexican Summer and Kemado Records sought a dedicated outlet for experimental electronic and dance-oriented releases.
Action taken
They introduced Software Recording Co. under the direction of Daniel Lopatin.
Aftermath
The imprint operated until 2016 and issued projects including Channel Pressure and Arcology.
Recent events
- 2019
Brooklyn Record Exchange opens in Bushwick[1]
Other
Mexican Summer expanded its physical retail activities with a second record store in Brooklyn.
- 2018
Mexican Summer marks its tenth anniversary with A Decade Deeper[1]
Campaign
The label celebrated its tenth anniversary with an all-day festival at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn featuring artists from across its network.
- 2016
Mexican Summer launches Anthology Editions[1]
Other
The organization expanded its Anthology Recordings reissue activity into book publishing through Anthology Editions.
- 2011
Mexican Summer launches Software Recording Co.[1]
Other
Mexican Summer and Kemado Records introduced Software Recording Co. as a subsidiary focused primarily on experimental electronic and dance music.
Sources2 sources
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