Princeton Boy: Jodie & Victor

"The idea of making/discovering music with your friends sounded so much fun" says Jodie Ingram of brand new UK label Jodie and Victor. He started wanting to release records when he raided his brother's record collection, picking up vinyl by Dischord, Factory, Saddle Creek and Subpop. Today he can pat his younger self on the back. The label launches Princeton's 'Calypso Gold' this week after finding the band's debut LP and enquiring about the band's UK plans. In the end, 'making a label' happened in a day. "They said yes straight away" he explains "and then I was like hmmmm right this is gonna happen I best sort a label name out/logo etc...". So there wasn't a label until there was a band? "well, the label was always going to happen but it was finding the right band, and as soon as I found Princeton ,Jodie & Victor was born aha!" he adds.

The record is a great slice of blue skies pop; lilting melodies are only clouded by lyrics about lovelorn men, claustrophobic spaces and small towns. 'Calypso Gold' - the 7" single that Jodie is releasing - is the pick of the bunch with its insistent drum machine and unsurprisingly summery hook. If you haven't heard them you could do worse than escape the cold, take an old fashioned chance and get one for yourself. The artwork, put together by graphics dude Dav Watson compliments the sounds with feel good pastels and a fleet of throwback 'paint' ships



The band are planning on coming to the UK in February but that won't stop Jodie heading over there to see them too, "Matt from the band is in London as a tourist" he says "he's pretty rad! He invited me out to the states which was nice".

He will need a rest after all the hard work. Putting out a record is a lot more than asking bands, as would-be-label-bosses quickly find out. "I've never worked as hard in my life" he laughs, "I mean, coming from Halifax you don't get the same opportunities as you do in London so I'm doing everything I can to get people to listen"

What's next?
I want to release the next record asap but don't wanna say yet incase it doesn't happen but they're really good....

Tips for 2010?
there's so much good stuff. I mean No Pain In Pop are putting out really awesome records, my boys Sexbeat are doing the same too. If I was to say check someone out it would be 'youandewan', he's also my brother and been making music for years. At 21 he's been no.1 in the Beatport Chart and it looks like 2010 holds great things for him. Perhaps I'm so fond because he's a friend but you should check out his Beatport or myspace.