Narnack Records

Narnack Records is an American independent record label founded in 2000. It emerged from New York City's underground music environment and built its identity around artist development, stylistic variety, and releases from performers who often operated outside the mainstream recording industry. Rather than concentrating on a single genre, the label assembled a broad catalog spanning garage rock, alternative rock, punk, folk, Americana, and dub or reggae. Its roster and catalog have included both emerging acts and established or influential musicians, giving Narnack a role that combined independent discovery with archival and contemporary work. Among the artists associated with Narnack are Coachwhips, OCS, later known as Thee Oh Sees, Langhorne Slim, ACID, Spiders & Hearts, Higgs, The Fall, The Slits, and Lee “Scratch” Perry. The catalog also includes releases connected with artists such as Deerhoof, Hella, Guitar Wolf, Sonic Youth, Yellow Swans, Erase Errata, Parts & Labor, and Young People. This range reflects the label's emphasis on unconventional, guitar-driven, experimental, and roots-oriented music rather than a narrowly defined commercial format. In spring 2007, Narnack relocated from New York to Los Angeles. Following the move, it entered a distribution relationship with Lionsgate Films. The Los Angeles period also saw the creation of Narnack Music Publishing, a publishing division built around a catalog of more than 300 songs by past and present artists and composers. After a relatively short period with Lionsgate, Narnack shifted its physical and digital distribution arrangements to TVT/The Orchard. The label received significant recognition through Lee “Scratch” Perry's album Repentance, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2008. The nomination helped illustrate Narnack's ability to operate across stylistic boundaries and to work with a major figure in Jamaican reggae while maintaining its independent-label profile. Reference material identifies a current roster including 400 Blows, Electric Flower Group, Hypernova, Iran, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Garrett Pierce, Restavrant, Sisters, Sundelles, and Vaz. Because the available material does not provide a current corporate ownership structure, executive list, financial information, or a definitive account of the label's present distribution arrangements, those fields remain unspecified. Narnack is best characterized as an independent label and music-publishing operation with a historically New York-rooted, later Los Angeles-based identity and a catalog centered on distinctive artists across underground and alternative music.

Narnack Records was established in 2000 and developed within New York City's underground music scene. Its early profile was shaped by a willingness to work with emerging performers and artists whose music did not fit neatly into dominant commercial categories. The label became associated with garage rock, alternative rock, punk, and experimental music, while also releasing or representing work connected with Americana, folk, dub, and reggae. The label's artist history includes Coachwhips, OCS, Langhorne Slim, ACID, Spiders & Hearts, Higgs, and Thee Oh Sees, as well as established or influential acts including The Fall, The Slits, and Lee “Scratch” Perry. Its broader catalog has included artists such as Big A Little a, Tyondai Braxton, Bunnybrains, The Cairo Gang, Condor, Deerhoof, DJ Shitbird and the Ultimate Party Machine, Erase Errata, Friends Forever, Friends of Dean Martinez, Guitar Wolf, Hella, Intelligence, Lil Pocketknife, Parts & Labor, Revenge SF, Shesus, Sonic Youth, Women And Children, XBXRX, X27, Yellow Swans, and Young People. These associations show a catalog built around distinctive, independent, and often genre-crossing music. In spring 2007, Narnack moved from New York to Los Angeles. The relocation marked an operational transition and was accompanied by a distribution partnership with Lionsgate Films. In Los Angeles, the company expanded beyond recorded music by creating Narnack Music Publishing. The publishing operation was described as containing more than 300 songs from past and current label artists as well as composers, giving the company an additional role in rights administration and exploitation. The Lionsgate arrangement was brief. Narnack subsequently moved its physical and digital distribution to TVT/The Orchard. This change placed the label's releases within a distribution structure covering both conventional physical formats and online delivery, reflecting the changing music-market conditions of the late 2000s. Narnack's most prominent award-related event came in 2008, when Lee “Scratch” Perry's Repentance received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album. The nomination provided recognition for a release from an independent label and underscored Narnack's ability to work beyond its original underground-rock associations. Available reference material lists a current roster including 400 Blows, Electric Flower Group, Hypernova, Iran, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Garrett Pierce, Restavrant, Sisters, Sundelles, and Vaz. It does not identify the label's founder, executives, ownership, current parent company, revenue, or current distribution partner. Accordingly, Narnack's documented history is strongest in relation to its artist catalog, geographic relocation, publishing expansion, distribution changes, and association with Repentance.

• 2008

  Repentance receives a Grammy nomination

  [1]Narnack Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Lee “Scratch” Perry's Repentance earns a nomination for Best Reggae Album.

• 2007

  Relocation to Los Angeles

  [1]Narnack Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label moves from New York to Los Angeles and begins a distribution relationship with Lionsgate Films.

• 2007

  Narnack Music Publishing is created

  [1]Narnack Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Narnack establishes a publishing division with a catalog reported as containing more than 300 songs by artists and composers.

• 2000

  Narnack Records is founded

  [1]Narnack Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Narnack Records is established as an independent record label in the New York underground music environment.

Independent, artist-focused label and publisher serving underground, alternative, experimental, roots, and reggae music communities.

• Music recordings · 2000

  Recorded music releases

  Narnack's principal offering is its recorded-music catalog, including albums and other releases by independent and established artists. The catalog crosses garage rock, alternative, punk, experimental music, Americana, folk, dub, and reggae. Associated artists include Coachwhips, OCS, Thee Oh Sees, The Fall, The Slits, Deerhoof, Hella, Sonic Youth, and Lee “Scratch” Perry.

• Music publishing · 2007

  Narnack Music Publishing

  Narnack Music Publishing was created after the company's move to Los Angeles. It was described as managing or representing a catalog of more than 300 songs from past and present label artists and composers, extending Narnack's activities beyond recordings into music-publishing rights.

• Reggae album

  Repentance

  Repentance is a Lee “Scratch” Perry album associated with Narnack Records. Its Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2008 made it one of the label's most publicly recognized releases.

• 2007

  Move operations from New York to Los AngelesStrategy

  Background

  Narnack had developed in New York's underground music scene before expanding its operating base.

  Action taken

  The company relocated to Los Angeles in spring 2007 and entered a distribution relationship with Lionsgate Films.

  Aftermath

  The Los Angeles period led to the creation of Narnack Music Publishing. The available reference later describes a move away from Lionsgate distribution to TVT/The Orchard.

  Source

• 2007

  Expand into music publishingStrategy

  Background

  After relocating to Los Angeles, Narnack broadened its activities beyond record releases.

  Action taken

  The label established Narnack Music Publishing, covering a catalog of more than 300 songs by artists and composers.

  Aftermath

  The publishing division gave Narnack an additional catalog-rights and licensing function, although its subsequent operating status is not specified in the available material.

  Source

• Move distribution to TVT/The OrchardStrategy

  Background

  Narnack's distribution arrangement with Lionsgate Films lasted for a short period.

  Action taken

  The label transferred physical and digital distribution to TVT/The Orchard.

  Aftermath

  The change provided a distribution route for both physical and digital formats, but the available source does not give further commercial details.

  Source

1. 1Narnack Recordsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Narnack Records official websitenarnackrecords.com