16oh Records - Inverted Forest #1 (May 2010)

16oh Records is run by Jeffry Hesse out of the O.C. Jeffry has released consistently great records and 16oh is one of those rare labels that I feel confident in buying records of bands that I haven't even heard. Seriously, check out 16oh.com and just buy anything he has released.

I asked Jeffry a few questions about what it is like releasing records and whether it is worth all the hard work and pain that goes along with it.

How long has 16oh existed and how many releases have you done so far?

16oh started as a brain fart in the head of Jason and I in 2004? We wanted to put out records together for some bands we didn't think were getting exposure, and eventually got started later in that year with a 7" for a band called Sidetracked.

We actually split release this 7" with these two dudes named Chris and Fes who ran a small label that eventually died. Funny story about those guys, wrote a song called "Vegan's Worst Nightmare" and now both of them are vegan! Oh, the irony! Anyways we split release that record and everything that could go wrong did in fact go wrong. Test presses showed up with the records themselves, UPS misplaced a few of the boxes, and wrecked a few that did get to us. All in all it was a great time though and kept us marching forward to do more records that people would give less than a shit about. I think at this point I'm 20 or so releases deep? I honestly don't remember anymore what I have released and it isn't because of complexity, it's because my personal life/work life has hit a ridiculously stupid fervor compared to the label.

What was the impetus behind the creation of the label? Was it something that you'd wanted to do for a while, or more of a spur of the moment thing?

Like I said, Jason and I just wanted to release music for under appreciated bands. It was a long running thing for both of us, as we'd been involved in bands or the scene in various ways, yet, we'd both hit a point where we could only really contribute anymore through documenting various aspects. We both had pretty decent jobs and figured we could use the ample allowance from those to do something positive instead of drinking ourselves to oblivion or just becoming a new cog in the wheel for American consumerism.

What about the name? How many different ways have you heard it pronounced? Do many punks get the reference?

Hah, love this question. The name for those not in the know is a hybrid mix of a 16 (the band) reference and a Wu Tang reference. Jason and I both obsessively love(d) 16, and we also loved the Wu Tang. Protect ya neck son. It's officially pronounced One Six Oh, but I've heard everything. Sixteen oh. 16 oh h. One sixty h. Heard it all.

How did you get into punk music? Was there one pivotal band or was it a longer process?

BLACK FLAG. Seriously, first band I ever heard. I was probably 12 or so? I'm 27 now. When I was like 13 a buddy of mine traded me a Minor Threat CD in exchange for a Strife - One Truth CD (no joke) and that set into motion some more love for early punk and hardcore sounds. A bunch of my friends were into some Riverside punk bands, and I went to a lot of shows at the Showcase. Salad days and all that. Skateboarding was a big piece of this for me as well. In my teens I got involved in building websites for people, and got a job working for a skate shop in Riverside. The older guys there exposed me to a lot of awesome shit and expanded my horizons. I heard Spazz, Infest and a bunch of other really influential music through those guys and I can't thank them enough.

What is the funniest email or quest that you have received relating to the label? Do you get exposed to terrible demos constantly?

Not really. I get some demos and I will always listen to them but I generally release things with friends now. Sometimes you get irate emails (and I have gotten a lot more recently due to being homeless and harder to get ahold of) but nothing really mind bending. I've had a few bands get over the top about their egos and perhaps what they felt entitled to, but to drag that out into the open court would be foul play and probably inappropriate. I wish no one ill harm and hope the same for others who interact with me.

What do you think of record collectors?

They are pretentious assholes. In all seriousness though, I still avidly collect (I just won some Black Flag test presses off Chuck Dukowski, I believe that makes me scum), I like some aspects of collecting, but hate others. It's silly to see kids buy a ton of different records and then just listen to the mp3s, but that's the way of the world now. I have a stack of records at my Dad's place right now about 150 LPs deep and twice as many 7"s just to motor through. Right now I am currently homeless, which puts a weird spin on collecting, but I can't wait to get a house and make my way through those records and the rest of my collection. I feel like I chopped off my left arm (the good one).

I think my favourite 16oh release so far might be the Bookburner 7". Is there a record that stands out in your mind? This could relate to the music itself or the process.

I will ALWAYS love the Bookburner 7" because it was just so involved to actually release it. That record went through a lot of iterations with the band and I, and just was forced to perfection in my eyes as a result of that. My favorite release however is probably the SLICES 7" I did. The band was really un to work with and I had been a huge fan of their other bands prior to doing this record. I did a lot of the calls on how that record ended up looking, which is usually something I don't do (I tend to let the bands call all the shots) but it was really refreshing to work together with those guys to put out what I feel is my most representative release in terms of how I feel about music. The music on that record is scathing in a way I still can't wrap my head around and I love it.

What is the 'scene' like in California at the moment? Any bands we should know about?

Well where I live it is mostly lame. I like a few local bands but not many. The scene I love as far as the bands is San Diego. Life's A Rape is 100% my favorite label going, and all those bands are great. If you don't listen to Crime Desire, Waco Fuck, Take Offense, Ok?, Lewd Acts, Cold Stare, or any of the other bands in San Diego you are missing out. Best acts going to the United States for my money. Back to the scene, Orange County sucks. I only live here because it is close to my work, and because I love the actual surroundings (it is beautiful here). Hopefully this year once I get a house I will be starting a band and maybe I can help to build the scene up a little bit, but it seems like all that will ever be popular around here is doing coke in the Detroit bathroom.

How much of a money pit is the label? Can small independent labels operate at a profit? It is fabled that New Order's 'Blue Monday' 12" actually lost money for every single sold, anything to that extreme?

An extreme one. Every now and then you get a release that does well, but 7"s for one cost a ton to make anymore, and surprise surprise, most release I've done have been 7"s. To make matters worse I have a sick feeling on selling things for much more than they cost to make. I'm not out to profit off the label at all, I have a good job and stay fed, so I try and pass on the music for as close to cost as possible. I am sure there are ways to make a profit but it has never been a concern of mine. Sure I get depressed every now and then when I dig deep into the pockets to release something, but that's part of what I decided to do, no sense in really letting it affect you.

Do you ever get the urge to give it all up? What keeps you going?

EVERY FUCKING DAY. Lately it has been a drag. I'm consulting and doing a lot of work at my real job, as well as going to school full time. My days routinely turn into 14-16 hour days of real work, and then at the end of the day I'm generally dealing with unhappy people who "hate" me because of the labels sluggishness. I don't blame them at all, but it does put a damper on the entire thing. The only thing that keeps me going to be honest is a man by the name of Jay Tichy. He inspires me to keep 16oh going, and I will keep doing it probably as long as he and I are friends (read: the rest of my life). Him and all the other Tacoma dudes always lift me up and make me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.

What do you have coming out? What's new for the 16oh?

Right now I am putting the finishing touches on an LP for Sojourner. Repressing the Lewd Acts 7", and then hopefully the following:
- Split 6" for Sidetracked and Hummingbird Of Death
- 7" for Fever that is just Skiffington playing piano and yelling
- LP for this INCREDIBLE Steamweird band called THE SCAM.
- Maybe something else for SLICES or Tusk Lord? I always hit them up and would love to do more. I'm also always barking up the Brain Handle tree but nothing has come of it yet.
- Potentially a Bookburner LP. Jay and Adam have talked about it, I am hopeful it will happen.
- I'd also love to do a record for Waco Fuck, Crime Desire, or Ok? All three of those bands are killing it, maybe someday I will get lucky and do one.

Any last comments?

I'd write something witty but I'm at a loss. I'd say, thanks to anyone who actually digs what I do and can deal with my general incompetence lately at running a label. Your silent support is something I really appreciate.

www.16oh.com