Interview with Contra Records: a chat with Ecke

An interview with Contra Records, a German record label and clothing shop

Contra Records was founded in 2004 and is a label and shop based in Wurzen, Germany. As well as dealing with records and merch mainly supporting the punk and skin street countercultures, over the years it has released many records by oi! and punk bands, becoming a real reference point for kids all over the world.

Radio Punk : Hello and welcome to our webzine. In what cultural context was Contra Records born and what motivated you to start this project? How many people are behind Contra Records?

Contra Records: Actually we are 4 people running Contra Records. It’s Michi and Steffi, who take care of our distro, webshop, all the shipments and stocks, Hechti, he was the founder of the label and is also taking care of our screen- and texile printing and me, Ecke, I manage our social media and the main communication with our bands and artists. We all knew each other since ages, we were going to the same shows and things came together within the last 10 years to the current status.

Radio Punk: You started in 2004, was it your first experience or did you have other bands, labels, projects before Contra Records? When did the spark go off and you fell in love with punk and skin counterculture? What do you think has changed today compared to when you started to take your first steps in the scene?

Contra Records: As we are all individuals everyone came from a bit different background. Hechti was born a Punk. Michi came a bit more from the Hardcore/Oi! scene and was running his „Subculture For Life“ Shop in Dresden for a few years. while I know Steffi as a Skinhead Girl since the 90s. I started to be involved into the Oi! / Punk subculture in 1992/1994. I don’t think anyone of us ever had a „real“ band or label before.

Radio Punk: How is the scene in your area and more generally in Germany? Is there support between the various realities or everybody stays in their own space?

Contra Records: Compared to the rest of Europe the scene here seems huge. We (before C19) had festivals, a running infrastructure for touring bands, we have a few more labels, fanzines and concert promoters. But I am really afraid how the scenery will look when things „get back to normal“ (hopefully soon). In general, i feel the „subculture“ thing is going to die as „everyone“ can be „anything“ since a few years. The spirit is dying slowly in my opinion, but maybe it’s just me getting more and more frustrated. I feel people are more lazy right now, rather criticize people who „do“ something than doing something better.

Radio Punk: In Italy, owning a punk store/label is an uncertain business and it is very difficult to make a living from this passion. Unfortunately, punk/skin are no longer as numerous as they used to be, so record sales are down a lot. Moreover, making some examples, between high shipping costs, bureaucracy, taxes and lack of social spaces/places where to play and therefore have a stand, it is very difficult to survive with merch. But how is the situation in Germany? Seen with our eyes it seems much better…

Contra Records: You name it and i also said something similar in the answer before. Although from the outer perspective it maybe look like Contra is a „big“ label, we’re just a small business of friends and invest much more passion and energy than we get back. You don’t get rich from a 300 units press of a record, you don’t get rich if you print 50 shirts of a band. Oi! don’t pay the bills said someone smarter than me some years ago. We also do screen-/textile printing for non-subculture releated stuff to survive.

Radio Punk: You often ask this question to others, so we thought we’d ask you! What do you dislike about the scene? And what do you like the most?

Contra Records: Dislike: I only speak for myself here, but I am sure the others agree: Some bands and „people from the scene“ talk and sing about loyality, sing about friendship and respect but act completely different. Some act like clowns. Some Instagram heroes who embarrass theirselves and also a scene which once stood for „being different“. Rockstar attitude, betraying theirselves and their best friends, wives and girlfriends. Two faces people.
Like: I met so many cool and lovely people who share the same point of view in so many ways, I still love the music and power which makes me feel strong like a tiger.

Radio Punk: Although you do not often express yourselves politically, certain positions emerge from the choice of many of your bands. How important are values such as anti-racism, anti-sexism and anti-fascism to you?

Contra Records: We all stand strong against Racism, against any form of fascism. Oppressing or discriminating other people because of their gender, color, sexual orientation or origin is fucking wrong and has to end! ‘Nuff said. I think (and hope) all bands we’re working with share these common positions.

Radio Punk: Regarding your label, how do you choose the bands to produce?

Contra Records: First of all, we do have to like their music. We have a slogan „No Time For Bad Music“, so it doesn’t matter if it’s Pure Oi!, Punk, Bovver Rock or Postpunk. As long as it’s good. Of course we cannot release everything we like, ‘cos we like a lot, haha. Of Course at some point we also have act a bit more business-like: If there is a band which is brand new which no social media presence who wants to do a triple live album with songs all lasting 7 minutes we have to think twice. Furthermore we always have to check if the band really fits to our customer / following. It makes no sense to release a Christian Black Metal album on Contra Records as i don’t think we have that many Christian Black Metal customers. Hope you get what I mean. Music & attitude are the main criterias to work with a band.

Radio Punk: What do you think about streaming platforms like Spotify or others? Do you think it is fair to use them to our advantage or do they risk hindering labels and distros?

Contra Records: Both. It’s good to make your music available to a lot of potential listeners. But on other hands side I don’t think that – especially „real“ „subcultural“ bands – will gain that much new followers, more real people who get into your music. You have one song in a playlist of some random stupid people who don’t give a shit about your attitude and lyrics, wow. Well done – if that was your goal, fine.

Radio Punk: We thank you for your availability and would like to close by asking you to give some advice to those who have recently opened a label, shop or distro. What advice would you give?

Contra Records: Trust in yourself, never give up. Don’t quit if you get knocked down. There are still people out there who love what you do.

ECKE CONTRA RECORDS FAVOURITE:

We decided to include each interviewee’s favorites at the end of the interview. In order to know something new and get an idea about the tastes of our guest that might surprise you. There will be room for albums, films, books and projects intended as ‘zines, radio shows, craft projects, collectives, other labels and more. These are Ecke’s favorites from Contra Records!

Album: Sex Pistols “Never Mind The Bollocks”, Oxymoron “Fuck the 90s”
Film: “The Warriors”, “Bang Boom Bang” (german cult movie)
Book: “1984” by Orwell, “The Swarm” by Schätzing
Project: too many to mention, but keep an outlook on Schubis “Noister Fetzn” zine!

REMINDER:

Radio Punk is a self-managed project. You can support us by checking out the distro catalog with records, books, pins and more, but you can also participate in our call with your contribution on any topic related to punk, counterculture or DIY.