Cosmic Disco is very excited to have spoken with no other than Mike Simonetti, one of the hardest working label bosses/DJ’s/Manager’s in New York’s underground dance scene today.

Not only is Mike a fantastic DJ but he is the founder of independent record labels Troubleman Unlimited and it’s dance music offshoot (Cosmic Disco label of ‘07) Italians Do It Better.

In the run up to the Italians Do It Better forthcoming European tour we just had to contact Mike to find out what motivates him where we find him talking candidly about what he thinks of the current New York dance music scene, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, Whatever We Want Records and the future plans for his two labels.

He even explains what ‘Balearic’ means to him!

Our thanks go out to Mike for this Cosmic Disco exclusive. Here’s what we found out:

cosmicdisco: Troubleman Unlimited started as an offshoot of your fanzine - Wanna Communicate? which you say was often misunderstood. Can you explain why you think it was misunderstood and by whom?

It was misunderstood because of my attitude. I was a surly young man and was always complaining about stuff. We didn’t take ourselves seriously but people took us seriously and I think this caused a few problems. In hindsight it was all pretty funny! My pessimistic attitude sometimes still shows quite a lot.

cosmicdisco: Do you have any interesting stories of the interviews you conducted with some of the hardcore bands during the Wanna Communicate? period?

Well, the Jawbreaker interview was cool. They were pretty unknown at the time and I worshiped them. They were pretty mellow with a typical San-Fransisco punk attitude. I have fond memories of those days. (Cue music!) I loved the old days, pre-internet! Another great memory was interviewing Nation of Ulysses outside of their show at Maxwell’s. I think it was one of the only interviews they ever did. Ian is truly one of the great minds of our generation. Check out his show (Soft Focus) on VBS TV.

cosmicdisco: Issue No.4 of the fanzine featured the famous ‘Superpowers’ compilation. What music did it feature?

It was mainly hardcore bands like Heroin, Born Against, Rorschach. Stuff like that… Bands that rotated around the ABC No Rio scene.

cosmicdisco: You mention in the biog of Troubleman that Italians are very loyal to their families. Is this how you see your relationship between the bands and your labels?

No, Italians are way more loyal than bands! Bands are always looking for something bigger and better. They are never happy, never popular enough. It’s really hard to please a band. Doing a label is such a bad idea! I don’t know why I even decided to do one in the first place. Every day I think to myself “What was I thinking?!?!?!”

cosmicdisco: How many people do you now have working full time on the labels?

It depends on who is around so it fluctuates.

cosmicdisco: What methods do you use to promote the artists signed on your labels?

Touring. Nothing else sells records. Hype doesn’t sell records. Buying advertisements doesn’t sell records. Reviews don’t matter. Nothing but touring! In this day and age records aren’t selling like they used to. Bands make their money from licensing and touring.

cosmicdisco: One of your old bands on Troubleman (Speedking) contained no other than LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy. What do you think of the other NYC based labels such as DFA and Whatever We Want?

I love them all! We are all friends. Myself and Tim Sweeney (Beats In Space/DFA Tour DJ) DJ together sometimes. We toured Sweden last year. I’ve known James Murphy for a long time and remember when we used to listen to Chrome back at his apartment in 1976 when I’d say “Yo, James! this Led Zeppelin band has a future! but seriously, yeah, we go way back to when he was doing Six Finger Satellite. Whatever We Want are great as well, those dudes rule! We’re working with Phil and Anton in the near future. Hopefully we will see some remixes with those guys involved.

cosmicdisco: Being an avid record collector with a reputation of having one of the deepest collections in NY, is vinyl important to you when releasing new tracks?

Wow, a deep record collection? You should ask Danny Krivit that question!!! I don’t take CD’s into consideration that much but they do serve a purpose. The bands sell them on tour and it’s convenient for kids to pick up a CD at a gig but personally I don’t buy them. I think some people even use CD’s to DJ with these days?!?!

cosmicdisco: How did the Italians Do It Better record label start?

We wanted to form a dance label for our dance bands on Troubleman. It was for this reason we moved Glass Candy and Chromatics over there. It grew a lot faster than we expected as it was supposed to be low key. Johnny Jewel (Glass Candy) and myself run the label, I’m the mouthpiece these days because he’s always away on tour or in the studio. Johnny is more pivotal then I am. He not only makes the music but creates the artwork and all the important stuff.

cosmicdisco: Some of your headline acts have gone from screaming punk to the more streamlined, wasted Disco sound. Do you think you have any direct influence on your bands musical direction?

I think the bands take influence from their surroundings. It was a natural progression for Glass Candy and Chromatics. Johnny works really hard at his music. He is literally ‘The Man’ as they say.

cosmicdisco: What’s the average number of presses you do for a 12″ vinyl release?

We start out with 500-1000 usually. Some are limited to 500, others we will keep in print.

cosmicdisco: We like the cosmic styled artwork on the IDIB 12″ sleeves. Who was responsible?

Johnny ‘The Man’ Jewel.

cosmicdisco: Can you give us any information on the forthcoming releases on ‘Italians’?

There’s gonna be more from Glass Candy, Chromatics, Tiedye from Sweden, Invisible Conga People from New York, Mirage. More Farah, some edits, remixes and mix-tapes. Watch out 2008! *Editor Note* Three new ‘Italians’ 12″s are available now - Invisable Conga People, Rubies (Tiedye Remix) and a Tiedye one sided Metallica cover! Get them from the IDIB blog now.

cosmicdisco: We see that Chromatics ‘Night Drive’ album will be released on vinyl in the winter of 2008. Will this vinyl copy differ from the CD release?

It will probably have a few different songs and maybe new artwork.

cosmicdisco: Your bands are well known for releasing several different versions of one track. Is this a conscious marketing decision or more the need to release updated versions as the tracks organically develop?

Johnny makes a conscious decision to make demo’s available to the fans by having them freely available on places like MySpace. His logic is perfect actually. Radiohead are doing exactly the same thing by giving music away. It’s a good way to spread the word as well. Like I said earlier, touring sells records so giving away a demo won’t hurt sales! It’s also about staying in touch with the fans, which was Johnny’s idea all along. It’s nice to show progress and cool to see how a song develops.

cosmicdisco: Cover versions are a staple of your acts live performances. What’s your favourite cover performed by which band?

Miss Broadway by Glass Candy (Originally by Belle Epoque) and Chromatics - Hands In The Dark (Originally by Dark Day). Those two rule!

cosmicdisco: Due to the size of the United States, American bands are renown for being extremely hard working, playing very demanding tour schedules featuring many dates. Is touring the most important method of artist development?

Hell yes!!!

cosmicdisco: We get the impression you don’t care very much for major record labels. Would you like your labels to become any bigger then they are already? By this we mean, could you become any bigger and keep the same level of integrity whilst the bands give their fans the same personal involvement you do at present?

I’m all for growth as long as it’s natural. Hype and sudden success can sometimes brings a band/label down. So again, as long as it’s natural I’m cool with it.

cosmicdisco: The fans have a very close relationship with the bands. How have they managed to achieve this bond?

I think giving away songs free on MySpace really helps as well as playing the same towns over and over again. I know Glass Candy like to give away CD’s to people who buy a shirt or something. We’d rather do what it takes to get the kids into the music than keep them from it because they only have 10$ to spend at a show. I think in the future we will be giving away the whole record for free (Digitally). It’s not far from that point already. Johnny has been lately throwing CD’s into the audience at shows. He has a unique way to promote bands but I think it’s a great way.

cosmicdisco: Have you, or would you want to be courted by the major labels? If so, on what terms?

TMU has already been approached as have some of the bands. We’ve been taken out to dinner and stuff. These days it’s more often the larger indie’s that will court us. Whenever a band gets a review in Pitchfork the usual suspects come knocking. There’s 8-10 certain labels that always come looking to sign our bands! No matter what the bands sound like, if there’s the slightest hype they will come chasing. It’s quite sad actually. These labels have no originality and don’t want to nurture bands, they just want to sign what’s hot at that moment. This is happening both on the dance and indie scene’s. In the indie rock scene it’s especially nauseating.

cosmicdisco: You’ve released a heck of a lot of records. what’s the average turnaround time of a 12″ single and what’s exactly involved from laying down the track to getting the product in the stores?

Without going into all the detail it’s basically about 2-3 months work all in all…

cosmicdisco: Are you conscious of musical trends or don’t you give a shit of what’s happening around you and simply release what you like regardless if you think people will buy the record or not?

I’m definitely conscious of trends and I pay a lot of attention to what’s happening in the music industry, however what I tend to do is the exact opposite to what the industry is doing most of the time. I read many industry websites and magazines. You have to be aware of what’s happening around you if you want to succeed. (As a label owner)

cosmicdisco: Your record releases tend to be very limited edition runs. Are they more targeted at collectors or would you like to sell as many copies as possible, getting the music to a wider audience?

People download music these days so we like to keep our record (Vinyl) releases limited for people who want vinyl. We always keep the music available digitally.

cosmicdisco: If you could sum up the sound of ‘Italians’ for someone who’s never heard a track from the label, how would you describe it?

Simple. Good dance music!

cosmicdisco: Running indie labels must be tough. No doubt you have learned plenty of valuable lessons along the way. Is there anything you would’ve done differently given a chance to start over again?

Oh jeez, where do I begin….

cosmicdisco: How many sales of a record do you consider to be a success?

200 million! Seriously though, it’s a success if everyone is happy.

cosmicdisco: For any band to have the ‘Complete Package’ what does this consist of?

Good music, good attitude, a strong work ethic and not being afraid to pay their dues on the road.

cosmicdisco: Is there a defining moment when you realised ‘Italians’ could really take off?

Not really as I don’t feel as though it’s taken off just yet but it’s great that Pitchfork’s love has helped us a lot.

cosmicdisco: Bands such as Glass Candy and Chromatics are really taking it to the next level. You jokingly claim to be years ahead of the pack. Do you want mainstream bands/labels to sit up and take notice that your artists could easily give them a wake up call?

I don’t really care about the mainstream personally. Usually the mainstream catches on 4 years late. Isn’t the mainstream into Disco Punk now?

cosmicdisco: Other than ‘Troubleman’ and ‘Italians’ what other artists/labels are you feeling?

Dischord, Gravity, Vermiform and American Tapes. Wolf Eyes, Prurient and John Wiese are all excellent too.

cosmicdisco: Do you have any plans for artists on ‘Troubleman/Italians’ performing in the UK soon?

Yes, we have a European tour scheduled for mid 2008! Keep posted to the websites for confirmation of tour dates/locations. EDITOR NOTE - See ITIB Blog for Chromatics confirmed tour dates.

cosmicdisco: Considering the current mainstream musical climate and it’s turnover of styles/bands, do you still see good acts who have the integrity of solely making quality music or are more and more groups being devoured by majors and their advance cheques, only to be left by the wayside months later?

You’ve summed it up perfectly. There are underground groups and labels that are great but many of them get devoured and spat out. The good bands are the smart ones who stick around.

cosmicdisco: MP3 blogs. Good or bad?

I like them. I think it’s a good way to spread the word about new music and open people’s eyes to stuff. As I’ve said before, I’m not against giving music away free on blogs. I think it can only be a good thing.

cosmicdisco: What’s the future for independent record labels?

Giving music away for free and forcing their bands to go on tour.

cosmicdisco: 2007 was quite a year for ‘Italians’ what are your plans for 2008?

Simple. More records, tours and gigs…

cosmicdisco: You grew up part of the New York Hardcore scene in the mid 80’s. Can you tell us about some of the parties, venues, scenesters & music you were involved with during this period?

I started going to shows in 1987. I used to sneak out of my house because I was way too young to be going to shows and I had a fake ID. I grew up going to CBGBs during the straight edge heyday seeing bands like Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today. We all listened to rap as well, as was the style of the time. I didn’t start going to nightclubs until the late 80s. Through a fellow skater, I met someone who worked at Mars as the door guy, and he got me the job as promoter.

cosmicdisco: Who were/are you musical influences?

I’m influenced by all kinds of music. There’s too many to mention.

cosmicdisco: What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

That’s a tough question… My first ever CBGB hardcore matinee was special to me. It was 7 Seconds in 1987. I think going to David Mancuso’s Loft for the first time was pretty special as well. I’ve been to so many shows, its really hard to even pinpoint one! I can list 100 of my all time favorite gigs!!!

cosmicdisco: While you were working as a promoter at Mars what DJ’s/Musicians were you working with?

I was low down the totem pole. I didn’t really work with any DJ’s. I just promoted at other clubs and sometimes answered phones during the day. But I promoted parties for Moby, Funkmaster Flex, Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, Red Alert, Bobby Konders, Duke Of Denmark, and I hung out with them sometimes and I got to chill behind the DJ booth as well. I got to go to all the clubs though and it was a life changing experience. Going out to Red Zone, Sound Factory, NASA, Palladium, The World, Mars, The Building, Disco 2000 and Zanzibar in Newark.

cosmicdisco: It was during this period you started getting into DJ’ing. What music were you spinning at the time and what clubs were you playing?

I wasn’t really a serious DJ at that time. I didn’t have equipment or knowledge of how to DJ. I just used to love collecting records and playing them for my friends. I didn’t start DJ’ing seriously for some time after. I was just a record collector of mainly Funk (Rare Groove shit) and Punk. This was before the age of the reissue, so grabbing something like an original James Brown record was a real treat back then.

cosmicdisco: You were also busy putting on your own parties such as ‘Contort Yourself’ whilst being a resident at the ‘Happy Birthday Hideout’ loft parties in Brooklyn. Where were these parties held, what music was being spun, what type of people were hanging out and how many were attending?

This happened much later. I started Contort Yourself in the late 1990s, around 1997. It was a small party in the basement of the Knitting Factory. I played Disco, some Funk, some Old School, and some Post Punk stuff… Happy Birthday Hideout was a semi-regular loft party in Brooklyn. That’s where I learned my “chops” as a DJ, playing 7-hour marathon sessions until 10 in the morning. I played a lot of Disco and House at this party. I also played some Rap as well.

cosmicdisco: You’re parties were focused on reviving old disco and post punk records. Do you think with the number of re-edits currently available this is damaging the original legacy of disco?

Only the crappy ones!

cosmicdisco: Why do you think so many of Disco’s early DJ pioneer’s were Italian American?

I have no idea actually! I never thought of that! Maybe because they were all based in NY and NY at the time was predominantly Italian in Brooklyn, Bay Ridge and the outer boroughs.

cosmicdisco: Your DJ sets are known for their spanning of a wide range of musical genres as well as pitching the records down. Is this a direct influence from the Italian Cosmic/Afro DJ’s of the 70’s/80’s (i.e. Loda & Baldelli) or a style you developed naturally?

To be honest, I didn’t hear a Baldelli set until a few years ago when I went to a message board and there was an MP3 set from Cosmic back in the day. I started pitching songs down because they sounded cool, and also because I wanted to try to do something different, even though I was just copying Loda and Baldelli! But I just don’t pitch shit down – I’ll play whatever I feel! A lot of the times I needed to beat match and the only way was to slow it down, and I noticed it sounded cool! Maybe it’s my Italian blood that made this happen???

cosmicdisco: What other DJ’s are doing it for you at the minute?

I love them all!

cosmicdisco: What’s your favourite party/venue to DJ?

I had fun at PS1 last summer. I love playing in Sweden and Oslo. They’re on a different level over in Scandinavia.

cosmicdisco: Can you give us some history on the Crazy Rhythm DJ partnership you have with Dan Selzer?

Dan and me used to DJ together back a few years ago. We met through a mutual admiration of Post Punk and Dance music. He has a party called Dazzle Ships that is still going on to this very day. *Editor Note* Dazzle Ships Jeremy Campbell was responsible for taking Beppe Loda over to New York last year as well as an interview found over at Tropical Computer Systems.

cosmicdisco: What parties are currently hot in NYC?

To be honest I don’t know! I think No Ordinary Monkey are still going strong. Harvey comes out to Love once a month and Studio B still throw great parties.

cosmicdisco: What are the current records doing it for you right now (Old or new)?

I love the Tiedye edits based out of Sweden. The Norwegians are always delivering the goods as well.

cosmicdisco: It looks as though your DJ schedule is become pretty busy. How are you finding managing your time between the label/s and DJ’ing?

I usually play on the weekends and work on the labels during the week. It helps that we have great interns.

cosmicdisco: Do you play any of your own label’s releases?

Sure!

cosmicdisco: Where are your favourite places to find records in NYC?

In NYC? There aren’t many good spots in NYC. All the good spots are outside NYC!

cosmicdisco: What was the last track you picked up?

I think it was an mp3 download of Eddie Murphy “Raw” off a torrent site.

cosmicdisco: What formats do you use when DJ’ing?

Records! Maybe a CD or two if it’s some exclusive stuff.

cosmicdisco: What do you think makes a good DJ?

Being selfless and being able to read the dance floor while playing the stuff you like. Good track selections as well. Not the same 100 songs you hear all the Serato DJ’s playing.

cosmicdisco: Does the word Balearic mean anything to you?

It means “Soft Rock”, “Beards” and “eBay gold!”

cosmicdisco: Do you play any instruments and have you been in any bands yourself?

Yes, I’ve been in bands but I can’t disclose that information out of embarrassment.

cosmicdisco: Who is your favourite UK based punk/post punk artists? (Remember we are from Manchester! ;-0)

Homosexuals and all their side projects most definitely. I’m a huge UK DIY fan. Also really into the Australian DIY stuff lately. And of course the minimal wave stuff!

cosmicdisco: Do you have any favourite Italian artists?

Martin Scorsese.

cosmicdisco: If you could create the ultimate ‘Super-Group’ devised from artists living or dead who would you have in the band, playing what instrument?

Led Zeppelin. The entire band.

cosmicdisco: Do you think you will always live your life by the original beliefs and spirit of punk?

I try to yes, but every day it gets harder and harder.

cosmicdisco: What tracks are getting heavy rotation in your DJ sets at present?

It fluctuates on how I feel at the time…

cosmicdisco: How did growing up in a mixed community of Irish, Italian and Polish Americans effect your listening to music as a youngster?

There was a lot of music around me during that time. Metal, Rap, Punk… We all listened to that stuff. We were pretty open-minded. During the NY hardcore days you would hear rap in their songs. It was part of our background. It was played on the radio’s and in the cars at the stoplights. Growing up in Bayonne, three doors down from my mothers house the band ATTACKER used to practice. They signed to Metal Blade and released a few records. This was in the early 80’s. Also I used to race BMX with the drummer of Bloodfeast, another Metal Blade band. Bayonne was a hotbed for metal in the early 80’s. Overkill used to drink at the bar up the block from my mothers house as well. And of course we all listened to rap as well. It was a weird connection.

cosmicdisco: What are your earliest memories of getting involved in music to the point you knew this is what you wanted to do as a career?

Probably when I was involved with ABC No Rio in the early punk matinee stages of the early 90’s. It was so great back then for a while. It was a very open atmosphere to do new things and contribute to the “scene”, which was huge back then. I started a fanzine and the label grew from that. Those times were some of my favourite.

cosmicdisco: You’re a native New Yorker and still reside in the region where you grew up as a child. Can you ever see yourself moving out of NY and if did leave the Big Apple where you like to live?

Yes I can, more and more each day. New York isn’t the same as it used to be. I m sure you hear it all the time. It really is starting to get really bad though. I would move overseas. Sweden perhaps? Or maybe move out to the country. Get a farm, some goats, and more dogs perhaps?

cosmicdisco: What/who have been you non-musical influences?

Milhouse, burritos, the couch. Thinking about the baby that’s coming…

cosmicdisco: If you weren’t involved in music, what do you think you would be doing?

Walking dogs and buying records.

cosmicdisco: Are the dogs named after anyone?

Milhouse was named after Milhouse from the Simpson’s and Sally was named because she looks like Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas.

cosmicdisco: What have been you career highlights to date?

Being able to play the stuff I play and get away with it!

cosmicdisco: What does perfect happiness mean to you?

Good food.

cosmicdisco: What’s your favourite dish?

A nice pasta dish can do no wrong.

cosmicdisco: Finally, What exactly do Italians Do Better?

Everything!

Cosmic Disco would like to thank Mike Simonetti for taking the time to answer our questions. Be sure to check out the fantastic music on labels Italians Do It Better and Troubleman Unlimited. Mike can be found DJ’ing at parties across the U.S, check the Italians blog for tour dates and if you’re not one of the lucky people to already have your ticket for one of the Chromatics Euro gigs just get yourself down on the door and try and blag your way in!

Mike Simonetti - Cosmic Disco Mix

No track list available for this one so spot away…

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