Matt Connarton Unleashed: BPS Records
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Speaker 1: And right now joining us. We have BPS records this here, Hello, Hello, Hello, So let's let's have all three of you introduce yourselves and tell us who you are and what you do in BPS Records, and then we'll, you know, we'll talk about your involvement in tonight's show, of course, but yeah, go ahead, introduce yourselves.
Speaker 2: I'm Rita, Rita his last song Rita. Okay, as we just discussed, I'm the owner, counter creator all the above as well.
Speaker 1: Very good. Welcome, and you I'm Jonathan Jonathan okay, welcome. And what do you do in.
Speaker 3: This basically anything the boss tells me.
Speaker 1: Whatever Rita tells you.
Speaker 2: Okay, that's the only part. T make sure that I do everything that I'm.
Speaker 1: Supposed Okay, very good. And you I'm Remy and same whatever you do Whateverta says pretty much. Yeah, did you say Remy? Yeah? Okay, welcome Remy. So, uh now tell us about your involvement in the show tonight with us swarmy fast, as I believe we have firmly established. I'm now one certain it is Tafia not.
Speaker 2: But uh in Lowell, I gotta tell you, I looked it up when we were listening to the other interview, it is a lustrous silk, a fine silk, but its original Latin was too shine.
Speaker 1: Okay, so they kind of right, right, it might be ta feta if it were a Greek restaurant, right, but it's but it's not. I mean, there could be Greek food there. I have no idea, but uh, okay, so what is uh? So BPS Records is one of the sponsors of Tonight's.
Speaker 2: Evannas sponsored partner with with Obviously it's our first year. We are very very happy to be here. It's it's like finding your people, right, Like we're out out there doing all this stuff on our own. It felt like for so long, and then it was like organically, here we are with the rest of our planet, you know. I mean, so we're very very happy to be here, happy to be a part of it. He ove us right into the hosting of it, which is great. I love being an EMC at my live show, so I was like, it's perfect for me.
Speaker 2: Yeah, But just being in the thick of it, anything we can do to participate and make it happen is you know, what we're all about.
Speaker 1: So it sounds like so BBS Records. It sounds like it's been around for a while.
Speaker 2: So it's so funny when people ask me that because it feels like forever and not forever.
Speaker 1: Okay, you know what I.
Speaker 2: Mean, because we're just it's our life, so we're constantly building, living and creating. We started the company in twenty fourteen, but it was like two years of We only started it legally so we didn't lose it, right, We registered the name and did it, and then it was like about two years are really going, Okay, yeah, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to be doing with the rest of my life. Okay, I mean so, and it kind of just grew from there and it's milestone after milestone, just popping up like a little brush.
Speaker 1: Fires Okay, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2: Okay, an end goal because, like like Will was saying earlier, if you're constantly doing it, then you're not finished, right, you know what I mean. So we're very similar in that aspect of it.
Speaker 1: Right exactly what was what was kind of the genesis of it? Like what made you want to start this?
Speaker 2: So I've been creating my whole life. So when I say that it was twenty fourteen, I realized that it was I've just been doing it my whole life. Yeah, so there was, you know, just living living it. My mother's a singer. My mother actually hooks in New Hampshire out on bail band. I want to throw that out there. I know she's listening, okay, but she's always been. It's been our lifestyle, so it's never been a job. So just kind of branding it is what happened in twenty fourteen.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: So you know, my I have children that are creators. So you know, one day I was like, what are we going to do with there's no platform for the beautiful mind? So that's a BPS stands for okay. So and you know everybody's saying it's hobbies, it's this, it's that, and all this original artwork is being brushed side, you know. So kind of you know, organically went together itself that way.
Speaker 1: You said, so BPS, what is BPS sand for?
Speaker 3: Exactly?
Speaker 1: Beautiful People's Society, Beautiful people Society.
Speaker 2: Okay, So it's it was a platform for art, okay, and just kind of grew into its own individual departments. Okay, we do everything for ourselves. So the independent artist, like the label itself is the label for the independent artist. So there's not we're all making money off of our own talents, and we're offering what we have for our talents to other people. So we all get up to that top where we want to be.
Speaker 1: Appropriately okay, bye bye.
Speaker 2: Not it's not a crab barrel, you know what I mean? So I guess that's that's the best way I can answer.
Speaker 1: So is because obviously, you know, I hear I hear the word records in the title. So but it sounds like it's not necessarily a traditional record label, or I mean it is because the nature of record labels has changed so much over the years too, you.
Speaker 2: Know, yes, so it's more like a production management as well. So we do have the recording studios in Middletown, Connecticut,
Speaker 2: so there's live recording, there's venue with it's like a venue as well. And then we have a I like to call it My Little Whiskey a go go because that's basically what it's turned into, where we filter at our restaurant. So it's like a cabaret lounge, you know, the old dinner in a show, but it's all original music. And then we take we do uh, we do a live stream show everybody likes to call out a podcast. I hate that word really, but yeah, only because we've we've kind of channeled in it a little bit differently.
Speaker 2: It's it's similar to what we see here, so I love seeing that, but there's there's none of that going on down there, you know, So we do it live in the restaurant. So all all that the label has turned into from there is this, the recording and the traditional stuff, but it's just so much more, you know, and then bringing it to the front for the public to see, to participate that. We do a lot of hard work behind these scenes, as you know, as you run around and do all the same stuff that I'm doing.
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, So bring it to the forefront.
Speaker 2: So our listeners are peers, maybe other you know, people networking with us can see that hard work. So that's yeah, it's a little of it of all the above.
Speaker 1: Now, how often at the restaurant do you do this where you have so so you have the performers come in.
Speaker 2: Yes, every Wednesday we do our show. Okay, it's an interview and then they do like a preset performance, okay, a preview performance because then we book them after that. Okay, they get like their own showcase stage. Oh interesting, yeah, okay, So it's usually like a two week window so we can market. You can see. You don't want to go to places and be like, damn, I don't know who's playing, or only go to places because you know who's playing, right, So you kind of get a little preview on the show.
Speaker 1: Okay, okay, it works out very well. And then so so they do that, so that happens on Wednesdays, and then if you book them, that's on a Friday or Saturday.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so the Spotlight is on Friday. We do live music six days a week. Oh wow, except for the school year. We're family first, so Mondays we're closed to take care of our little ones. But Tuesday we do open my comedy. Oh but it's grown into filtering. So everything we do we all, like I said, offer to other artists. So we've got a comedian that comes in and does a similar version of on my set of his podcast that's now his live stream. Oh okay, so we do the production for him and such. It's so great.
Speaker 2: It's the only day we don't do music. Oh okay, yeah, but it's art and art and creating is the big.
Speaker 1: Factor for Yeah, yeah, owning.
Speaker 2: Your inner potentials to whatever that craft is.
Speaker 1: Now, do you now when you talk about some of the other the other things that you do, I mean, do you do you release music with artists or do you do you get into that.
Speaker 2: Part of So we before the pandemic, everything was a little bit different, right, So we're still trying to find our bearings and isolating things for that. But we definitely did. And but our goal is a little bit bigger in that aspect. You know, we don't we don't want to down anybody else's in the way they're doing it, but we want to do it better. So we want to have our own applications for original music that all goes much like band camp. I think you referred to band camp. Yeah, I think they're one hundred percent profits to the artists.
Speaker 1: Correct, No, they they take I think they take ten to fifteen percent, depending on what it is.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, but we've been misinformed. A lot of my guests were saying that they were on the artists. That's good to know.
Speaker 1: I mean, something could have changed. I could be wrong, but the last I knew, they they took a percent. At least if you're if you're selling music through band camp, now it might be different. If you're selling merch and you're shipping it yourself, that might be different. Okay, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2: So we want to do it one hundred percent of the artists.
Speaker 3: Okay.
Speaker 2: Our big thing is getting the airplay for music, getting everything to the forefront, like we said, and it's the same thing with that. When we get that, you know, organized enough to do it right, it'll be all that. And there's no reason for me to make money off other people's talents. I've clearly got enough of my own. I just got to keep participating and not doing it for everybody else instead of myself. And then that's the thing. So we want to do that. We all should be. There's no there's no room for the starving artists more that we're all this talented and we can all be helping each other.
Speaker 2: So that's the goal for that as far as the distribution. But you know, we do everything in the label paired for the artist, so there's no come sign up with us and we promise you all this stuff. It's it's if you are. We don't go out looking for the artists. It's got to be organic. You know, we're not paying our bills off our record label. You know, it's it's literally a platform to help the whole movement. So every single agreement of I hate the word contract because we're not we're not we're not selling anything, right, but it's a deal.
Speaker 2: When you come and say this is what I need from my career, how do I get this done? We all need to help each other, right or at least get out. So it itemizes down one stop shop for you. All of our departments open up because the studio is not just music, So we do the portraits. We've got the film department so you could do your videos, and at the studio you could do your your own versions of your podcasts and your shows. Your album covers the long nine yards. Yeah, and you know we're all we want is the credit.
Speaker 2: We want the branding credit. That's the thing for me because it's such an.
Speaker 1: Overall company, you know, right right.
Speaker 2: Think about like when you see the little Playboy bunny everywhere everybody knows what that means.
Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, that's what we're going for exactly. Now, are there are there artists performing? Are their bands performing tonight at Swarmy Fest with whom you're currently working.
Speaker 2: Or not the year, not this year. We definitely wanted to just participate wherever they put us in. But you bet your bottom dollar, I'm gunning for a whole bunch of stuff next year.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no doubt, no doubt. Now, So I'm curious Jonathan and Remy, how did you both get involved in this?
Speaker 3: Uh?
Speaker 2: I forgot two years ago, two but I think two years ago you came in for.
Speaker 3: I came in for the oil wrestling thing.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 1: Oil was like sounds sick, I'm doing it. And that's how we met and now we're besties. Yeah wait what really?
Speaker 2: Yeah you hung up.
Speaker 1: On the one that that's the thing, Like people still do that.
Speaker 2: Well, so all right, we're supposed to be a thing. Yeah, it's it's so I'm gonna have to bring it up because it originated here my old partner, the late Great Captain Chris local DJ around here in Manchester need to karaoke DJ okay. But he and I were at places cage myself a little bit but nineteen ninety five and they were doing uh karaoke and someone pulled out a pool and they filled it with yello okay, and I was like, you know what would make this so much better and it kind of developed into that.
Speaker 2: So we went and bought this big blow up wrestling matt type ring. Yeah, and we went on tour. We grabbed six girls and we went on tour and it was the best thing that I ever did to keep myself in shape.
Speaker 1: And wow, it was great.
Speaker 2: So we're bringing it back since he passed away, We're gonna bring it back and just bring it on a whole different level. Okay, and that will be next year for sure, Okay at Swarmy Fest.
Speaker 1: Okay, Oh wow, all right. Interesting. Interesting. So that's that's how you that's how you met.
Speaker 5: Yeah, that's how we met and signed up for it, and it didn't happen, sadly, but it's gonna happen.
Speaker 2: It's gonna Hapenna, it's gonna be right. Yeah, But I do have her and she's so very talented, so I have her in every aspect of everything we do.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: Within our company, everybody is an artist or a creator of some sort.
Speaker 1: Yeah, so we're.
Speaker 2: All kind of just up an overreached apartment and doing everything together. So it's pretty beautiful.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, excellent. And then Jonathan, how did you get involved.
Speaker 3: So I got involved. Let's say.
Speaker 4: Last year August, I actually came down. Uh, she had a studio middle time, as she said, I was saying, and I did some rappings things like that at the studio, and then when she opened up her lounge, I came down every Thursday night. Every Thursday night we do a musicians jam there.
Speaker 3: It's a great time.
Speaker 4: We make music on the spot, all unrehearsed, you know, all kind of freestyle.
Speaker 2: Uh.
Speaker 4: We have a drummer that comes there, he's the host. The guitar player always comes down, bass player, and then usually I just.
Speaker 3: Do the vocals.
Speaker 4: But we met there, and you know, it's been a kind of a partnership ever since. We kind of developed more into a oh got to be closer, Yeah see there you go. Yeah, but yeah we met. We met there at the lounge and a nice Thursday night, and I've kind of been linked at the hip ever since.
Speaker 1: So excellent.
Speaker 2: This tends to happen in this industry because we're doing so much and it feels so good to create, right. So it's the support that that we have in each one of our departments or venues is just like it's overwhelming. In a positive way. Like, it's just it's like my children graduating from school, you know what I mean, It's actually happening. Everything I believe in is happening. Did you see it with the support?
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's excellent. Now who else is involved? Are there other people currently involved in BPS?
Speaker 2: Oh? Yeah, so big shout out to some of them people. We've got our drum master that he was referring to on our open jam. Chuck Peterson from the Adventures of Thatteya's Black I'm on my show, is lead singer of his band, is the host of my show Everyond Love Daddy. There's just a little little bit of everybody from all the bands in the work that we've we've been through along the way. It's just where they're all keepers, you know, so if something's going down, they're like, I want to so a little bit of everybody.
Speaker 1: Did I hear the Adventures of Thaddeus Black That that's the name of a band. That's a cool name.
Speaker 2: You've got to look at that band up man. Yeah, for sure, all original Connecticut natives, phenomenal, phenomenal music.
Speaker 1: Now you mentioned something about your show, do you also do uh? Do you have a podcast or something.
Speaker 2: Or I'm gonna have to figure out what to call it.
Speaker 1: Well, that's right, you don't like you don't like that.
Speaker 2: I don't know. I don't know why. It's just the stigma I think of. You know, it's not the same, right, so that for me is important. But it's you know, it's not that big of a deal. It's called BPS Talks. Currently, we ared film it live at hot Rod Spotlight Lounge on Main Street in Middletown, Connecticut, but we only are airing it on the Facebook, okay, because we're gonna be We're in transition of doing some really big things with the show, so in some colleagues that haven't quite we haven't quite made it terms with it yet, so I don't want to mention it.
Speaker 1: But sure, sure, you know, bringing.
Speaker 2: It to the next level, and then we'll have it on other platforms. Yeah, you know, we keep them up there. You can link everything on the website links to every department we have, so it's a big, long splash page.
Speaker 1: Okay, okay, Yeah, It's funny the term podcast it's become, it's become a broader term over the years because when I first started, I think I think I I think I first started doing podcasting, and I think it was two thousand and six. Wow, is that long ago. Well, we didn't call it, but the term podcast you didn't even hear that word yet, right, so at that time, but we were streaming, so we call that. My friends and I who are doing it, we called it internet radio, which is a term you never hear now now now literally anything you know, like like obviously we're live on FM radio right now, but we're also streaming to Facebook and YouTube and everything, and so so it's like we're podcasting but at the same time.
Speaker 1: But it used to be like then, when the term podcast started being used, it seems like people referred to that as anything that was recorded, like recorded audio of a show was a podcast, but if you were going live, it was still called internet radio. But then over time podcasts just became you know, if you're streaming, it's podcasting, if you're podcasting, you're streaming. And it's just kind of well.
Speaker 2: It brings me back to like my whole, you know, plan or my whole the importance of my movement is bringing all that hard work that we're doing to the forefront. And I think I just always felt like it was being taken away with that whole like you said it was this, it was that. Yeah, So kind of combining the two is how I'm overcoming that negative stick for me. Yeah, with with my podcast clients, right yeah, and I'm I'm true and true to my word and what I believe in. So if I catch myself being hypocritical, I'm like, Okay, how do we fix this?
Speaker 3: Right?
Speaker 2: What do we do about it? Because creating is creating? So yeah, open the platform for the podcast guys, Let's show them how it's done. There you go, there, you go, really and they love it. They love every minute.
Speaker 1: No, absolutely, if you are just joining us. We have BPS Records here with us talking about well, of course getting to know them and and all about BPS Records and of course they're a very important part of Swarmy Fest tonight at Taffada in Lowell. I believe doors are at five pm five yeah, and Jenny and I will be there of course, and yes, yes, really looking forward to that. Have you, as BPS Records been involved in other shows like this, like what Swarmy Fest is?
Speaker 2: We it's it's crazy because I was saying, like it's so odd for me, I'm kind of appreciating being like the newcomer to swarm with because I had the weight up my shoulders usually always because they're always my productions. So now since we've opened the lounge, it's a tracted all these other great productions, where now it's just here's my room, here's my floor. Yeah, and it's really nice to always add to everything like that. But yeah, we did cet Rocks Rock. We were just listening earlier. Yeah, Bob the April with c t Rocks.
Speaker 2: He's been doing it for years as well. I mean I had never heard of him, right, So because I'm we're all so focused on our movements and what we're doing, right. So he had a spot show up and I was like, he's like, can we do twelve bands in your place? And I was like wait, Like he thought it was gonna be a problem. I'm like absolutely. He's like great, So he's just gonna give me the place all day. What about your other customers? They said, well, they're gonna have to listen to the music, right, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2: But and it was twelve original phenomenal bands you had. You know, your you always have your solo acts where you're like okay, I see where they're going, you know what I mean. But the point of it was just the promotion of the independent art and they just kept going. When things went wrong, I was always like, give them my card, like I know how to fix that much time, you know, But that was like one of my favorites. Soundhoum Productions. That's another one we do. Uh it's four four original bands back to back, okay, and it's like, you know, ska, punk, punk, folk, you know everything.
Speaker 2: Were actually twenty twenty five. We have a lot more that we're going to be doing as far as answering that question, So yeah, I know. We got Eric Raboska from Highest Frequency Record Records in Connecticut. He's gonna come take over the first Saturday of every month and kind of do the same thing, but a totally different line of musicians. Phenomenal. Yeah, there's so much great hard work out there. Oh yeah, And I just want everyone to see like we're not just paying and record labels to play our music, like we're doing everything, you know, and that goes for everyone.
Speaker 2: That's a part of the movements.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Do you ever have anyone approach you? Do you ever have a musician who approaches you who wants to work with you, but they're not. They're just not ready.
Speaker 2: Boy do I are? So that agreement that I was telling you about, it's funny because it's now disclosed with what I'm intolerant to. Okay, right, So because I don't have time for that, you know, being a mother as well as being a mother of all my creations, I really just don't have time for that. So if you don't have discipline to your own career, you don't even have to have a plan. But the dedication, the discipline and the poise of what they taught you in karate class for crying out, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2: We've learned everything we need to know in kindergarten about life. If you don't have that, then there's nothing we could do for you. You know, you may need a lot, which is great and fine, but that's the core stuff you have to come with. Your drive is the most important thing to original use it. You know, we all have our ups and downs. I have my days where I'm like, what am I doing? I didn't go to the beach at all this year? Like you know what I mean? But it goes that way.
Speaker 4: So we say they party like rock stars before they make it.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, that's the biggest downfall. It's like, what are you doing? So we do have a lot of mostly positive, but you do have a lot of people that come and then. And I'm really a stickler with it. I love I love everything, and I want to help everyone. But if in the first three seconds of what you play for me, I don't want to hear it anymore. You know, you got a little more work to do. And I know that sounds harsh, but it's real. It's about being being realistic with where you are and what you want.
Speaker 2: But we never turn anybody away, you know, if you come around and you need help, even with those beautiful mind problems that we have, you know, all squirrel, you know, we just we attend to that. But if you're just not good, you're not good and someone should tell you that, right. I know it sounds rough.
Speaker 1: No, but it's true. It's true. You're not You're not doing anybody any favors by, you know, pretending that they've got something that they don't have.
Speaker 2: Right and you and it can weaken it can weaken their path and they're creating if you put them in a room with people that might make them feel insecure about where they're at, and you don't do that, so being honest with that. But I do have some people that just think that there's some place that they're not and I'll kindly tell them, you know, just mn't you do this, come on back, you know. But we always create a platform to perform. So at the studio, that's where you can work out those kinks and you go down there, Hey, take the room for a night through yourself.
Speaker 2: A concert be the the highlight, right, because that's important if you can't. We talk about that all the time. If you have five people in a band, but we're all supposed to be supporting one another, but it is very hard when all your friends are musicians. You can't be anywhere, right, I mean everywhere at the same time. Yeah, yeah, but we will look at you know, the crowds that come in. If you can five people in a band and not one person comes, I mean, you've got a mom, you've got a wife, you've got a brother, you've got a husband, and someone should be coming to support you, right, So like those are the kinks I think, like you know, putting the horse car before the horse and stuff like that.
Speaker 2: So we offer that platform at the studio for them to get that stuff out of the way and learn that organically.
Speaker 3: Yeah.
Speaker 1: I feel like, uh, you know, in my my own experience working with musicians and I used to play in bands, and but I also you know, I do other things in the industry, and I feel like I've all I've got an axiom. I've always sad everybody wants to be a rock star, but only as long as it's easy. Oh yeah, you know, and then you know some some people, you know, they're like, whoa, there's actual work involved. It's not all you know, it's not all glamorous, and no it is not.
Speaker 2: You got those people that come in and they're like, you got to listen to my song right now. I'm it like that they're going to be discovered, and it's like I have to be the bad guy. This is this is why we're the independent label for the independent artist. You know, we're not going to lie to you, We're not going to do all that, yeah know what I mean.
Speaker 1: Yeah. The other delusion that I've always talked about is the mythical record company scout. You know, you know the guys who play, you know, the same bar every weekend, and they're they're just convinced that you know, any any any weekend now that this mythical record company scout is going to walk in during their set and be so impressed with what they see and handing them a five album deal. And it's so true.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's why I you know, we I like to call it my movement rather than my label because of that stigma with it too. Yeah, And they're like, oh, nobody gets discovered this. This stuff is hard, man, Like we aren't me can't remember the last time. She ate, like where you ago? You know what I mean. We're just we're constantly doing it, and they just don't get that if you can't, and I get like, there is the part time artist right that is working in nine to five because you have to have a nine to five too, right to cover it all unless you can be one hundred percent in it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, But like I only see my children because I've created family friendly businesses. So you know, my teenagers in the kitchen cook and he's making beats in the studio. My ten year old's telling my bartenders how to run the computer. Like, you know what I mean, you got to find a way to bring the two together to do that. For the part time artists, we still give them that same love, like creating is creating and I love that they don't even care where their music goes. They're just you played that at your place?
Speaker 1: Yes, right right?
Speaker 2: You know, so it's really just the movement of the creating and stuff.
Speaker 1: Yeah, totally. What would you say is the biggest misconception that you run into when when you know these artists come to you, what are the biggest expectation they have that maybe they shouldn't or you.
Speaker 2: Know, oh well, if I'm going to pick one or you don't have to pick it. The first one that comes to mind is that I'm going to do your job, you know what I mean? And because I'm guilty of that, I will catch myself going why is this so hard? Because it's not my job, it's not my career, and I want to help, but I want to do all that. It's that nurturing part, you know. But sometimes I got to turn around and switch the hat and be like, wait, you're supposed to do this. I had an artist that phenomenal, he had so much potential and he still does that I signed with and it was always my fault that something wasn't getting done and I would go back to my meeting minutes because now I keep meeting minutes.
Speaker 2: You were supposed to do this by this state, so I could do all this yours, you know. And they just don't understand the value and importance of keeping that that system. Like I can't shut down the house because you today wanted to do what you're supposed to do two months ago, And why am I not where I'm supposed to be? Well, yeah, you know, you have to do the work. So yeah, that's the biggest thing that that we're just going to do. Their jobs are not a management label. We are having a hard enough time managing all our businesses, right Yeah.
Speaker 2: And then that and other than that is like the organic nature of real original music, Like I will not let people sing over their own tracks. If you if you don't know the difference between a show mix and a performance mix and a track, we got to bring you way back in the step in the process because that value is so different, you know what I mean, if you run into that a lot, a lot more than you would think. Yeah, the only it's it's it's kind of genre specifically more you know, there's a lot of hip hop.
Speaker 2: I would love to take over the hip hop world right now in Connecticut because there's some phenomenal people, but the stigma because of that, it's so hard that people are just you know, it's kind of like a quick buck, I guess for them to start them, but they just really don't do it right. So that would be a full time job for me. I take on that, but not as much in you know, other genres, you know what I mean, You do get a lot of people that, Like we had a big shout out to Jamie Starchild and the Dream Factory.
Speaker 2: He was a guest on our show last week. I was an honor to have him there and seeing he's got the same views as us too, Like that's big for me seeing these national big stars that are like, yeah, let's do this. What can I do with you? And I'm like what, you know what I mean, I'm star struck on my own show, trying to keep it together. But he did this one man show and it was fifteen minutes and I needed more, but he was you know what I mean. So if you had your eyes close, it would be like a Prince song because he did everything and he sang, and so you'll have your your stuff sometimes on backtracking when you're an independent, original by yourself artist.
Speaker 2: But you know, we strongly love that when it's your craft. Yes, but if it's happening because you're not ready to perform, meaning you don't have a band, and again, put put your your priorities in order to get to where you need to be with your.
Speaker 1: Grad Yeah, sure, yeah, absolutely, any any like sort of success stories or anybody who you've worked with who's really kind of, you know, gone to that next level, who you want to kind of give some shine to, anybody you want to mention or oh.
Speaker 2: Gosh, I feel that. Oh my god, I don't think I can do that, And everybody's gonna be mad at me. For me though, what it is is like I used to always tell everybody when they're like my contracts, right, yeah, they're like, this has got to be a gimmick. You don't want anything for me, You're not going to do this for me different And I'm like, yeah, I mean if you come to me and someone finds you like they all think it's gonna happen, right, Hell, yea, I'll sign you out of that. I just let them, Know, I looked you up, like, yeah, that's the thing, Like wherever they go from there is not about that.
Speaker 2: To answer that question. There's a ton of people out there finally living through music, doing what they love appropriately, and you know, I don't want to take credit for that, but I love being a part of it, you know what I mean. So even like, even with my ties with the Avengs of That is Black, I have no connections in any way, shape or form to their artistry and what they do other than their participate in my movement. And for me, what I do for that is we non stop promote and market as well. So it's it goes both ways in every every area of it.
Speaker 2: You know, we'll go to their shows, the pr that we do for our guests, the eliminating of these crazy, outrageous fees for artists, because if you're a part of our movement, it means you've been on our show, you've attended our places, and then you get this member access for pricing, right because we do have to make money, right, Yeah, of course, So all of my talents are making money. I'm making T shirts for the public as well as for bands. You know, small businesses helping each other. So it's really this really big web of our artistry and basically change in the world so we can all afford it.
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, you know, my Building and Zoning department told me I rewrote the Chamber of Commerce. So the way my brain works just out in the hallway, I was like, you know what we're going to do that. We're going to make bps a chamber of arts, and it's make it happen for the state, you know.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, So what's the Is there a kind of a what's an example of something that artists need that they don't know that they need, like when they come to you, something that you can do for them that they didn't even think was important.
Speaker 3: Oh, that's a great question.
Speaker 2: Structure first of all. Structure right away, that's the most valuable for the beautiful minds. We want to do everything all at once, right, Yeah, the things like the branding, branding yourself. I think people think that the work itself is branding.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's not.
Speaker 2: And if you are all like I'm all over the place, I keep opening businesses because I have that much more to do in the brain. But at the end of the day, if there isn't a line of branding for it. Like if you're doing rock today and then you're doing wrap tomorrow, that's phenomenal talent, but how do you organize it to maintain that, you know, for for the long term event, And so that I think is the most part is really situating a plan. And I'll have a plan sometimes most of the time. Plan is to get famous most of these people, but like we're always talking about, you know, just in common conversation, like Will and I and you know, my guys on my show and everyone that we know down there for musicians, like Jamie said it best, We're like, where do you see yourself in the future.
Speaker 2: He's like, hopefully still working like this. If I get like Will said earlier, if I get there.
Speaker 3: Then I'm done.
Speaker 2: You know, there should just for us, we're doing what are our main and long term goal is regardless of the outcome, you know what I mean. So even if for some reason I'm not able to juggle all this phenomenal stuff and it doesn't pass off to my kids or some other great young artists, I'm still going to be in my own studios and I'm still going to be talking everybody's ear off on my shows.
Speaker 3: You know what I mean.
Speaker 2: So yeah, yeah, I got to keep creating.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Now, if someone wants to uh so you know this show. You know, we know a lot of industry people listen and a lot of musicians listen. If someone's interested in working with you, like, what should they do? What's the best way to go about reaching out?
Speaker 2: So I got a lot of avenues. But if you go to the website, you can always click my email. But the problem is I've got so many emails. So I did put my personal cell phone on my website. I know a lot of people say not to do that. My text me call me, I will get back to you, and that is the best way reach out directly or come on down. Yeah, you know I am. I live at my lounge unfortunately, because that's like the hub for everything, right yeah, but I'm so as soon as we're remodeling the studio right now, so in a couple of weeks I'll probably be glued to the studio again, you know, And so you just come down.
Speaker 2: I'm at five point forty four Main Street in Middletown, Connecticut.
Speaker 1: Okay.
Speaker 2: The website is bpslife dot com and some great stuff on there. So all my merch on there are from other artists as well. Okay, so this kind of grows into everyone else's platform, and I don't take any of their money, you know, I take whatever I would have because we make everything in house. So whatever the customer is buying, we take it. We take it off the VIC you know what we would have charged you anyways as a merchandise.
Speaker 1: Okay, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2: So everybody platforms. It's like because that other one Etsy, everybody uses Etsy. And I was like, no, no, no, this is all wrong. We gotta do this right here on the ground level, right, so you know, check out some of that stuff on there, because it's artists sharing each other's work. But that's the best way to reach me. Either drop in and say stop what you're doing. I need to talk to you. I like that best. I'm old fashioned.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, that's great. That's great. Before we run out of time too, let me just ask you, so, what what do you want Anything that we didn't talk about that you want to make sure people know about BPS records and and or anything about the show tonight too that maybe we didn't talk about today that you want to make sure people know because obviously you're going to be there. I assume, well all three of you be there tonight. Yes, excellent, excellent.
Speaker 2: We definitely want to We want to reach out to as target as much of New England. And uh, it's nostalgic for me to be here, so I'd love to get some artists from up here to come down there. We just want to cross pollinade, I said the other day. Yeah, it's it's the biggest thing. You know. We do everything local in Connecticut, but I lived here for most of my adult life, so I would love to be able to Manchester. Yeah. I'm originally from Lynn, mass but they forced me here in fifth grade. Oh no, I did not come easily, but Lynn never come out the way went in asked for water, We'll give you Gin.
Speaker 2: Never trust a girl from Lynn. But yeah, so for me, it's just reach out. I want. Everybody's like, oh, well, what kind of genres? All genres. I don't care if you made up your own genre.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: We have a lot of the ability of connecting. We have a lot of networking, and we have a great roster of other labels and everything we're doing. You know, we've all kind of just got together and we're doing it, so yeah, whenever you got bring it on. Yeah, that's that's basically what it is. We're so honored to be here tonight with uh with with the swarmy fests that I just want to let it rock and meet everybody and then see what we do next year. You know, we're we're in for the long haul with with Sepsis, so you're going to be seeing a lot of different things with us as we cross Polony.
Speaker 1: Excellent, excellent and being in Connecticut too. You must cross paths with Dead by Wednesday.
Speaker 2: Yeah, we loved it by Wednesday.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: I I just saw them at Toad's Place. Yeah, I was like forgotten Toad's places. I've been so on the grind, but they were down there with Sepsis and a couple of bands. It was a great show.
Speaker 1: Last time I saw them, no joke, was like fifteen years ago because I used to do I used to promote a lot of shows like I used to do shows. Well, you probably remember the Uptown Tavern.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I worked there.
Speaker 1: Oh you did.
Speaker 2: I was a good old martiner there.
Speaker 1: When we may have, we may we've probably met, we must have. It's very likely you and I have met before at some point.
Speaker 2: It isn't my real hair. Oh really, it's funny.
Speaker 3: Many we must have.
Speaker 2: I did think your name sounded familiar when I was like I got in all this guys.
Speaker 1: Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, most likely we've met, but yeah I had, I had DoD by Wednesday. There might have been more than fifteen years actually, but anyway, that was the last time I saw them was at the Uptown.
Speaker 2: Yeah, we did a lot of it was spiderwork, remember the spider Yes, yes, we did a lot of good stuff over there too.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely, well, really looking forward tonight. Thank you all three of you for coming in, very very happy. This has been wonderful swarmy fest of course tonight at Taffa or is it it's Club Taffida technically right? Is it a music hall? Taffita music Hall? Thank you? I got it. I knew there was more name.
Speaker 2: Shine.
Speaker 1: Have you have you been there already?
Speaker 2: Event I hadn't been, but we had you know, a group, Wise sent videos and everybody went to check it out. Yeah, so we we saw it video footage.
Speaker 3: But yeah, it's take a nice place.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah it does, it does. Yeah, looking forward to it should also Jenny you want to plug your website and mention the art the next art showing at Mosaic.
Speaker 5: Absolutely, you can check me out at gen Coffee dot com. J E N N C O f f uy dot com find all my musings, artwork and so forth there, and don't forget to check out the Mosaic Art Collective dot com for more information on the next show, Small Wonders Miniature art show opening on November eighth. Right here in the Queens City located in the Daily Mirror building is sixty six an over.
Speaker 1: Suite, yes to, and then we should also mention too after Swarmy Fest, which is tonight, the next big festival that we're involved in is spelfy.
Speaker 5: Fest selfie fest that's going to come up on November twenty fourth, be held right near us here at Jewel Yes, and we'll have more information coming soon, but we're excited. Yea loots bands, music artisans and they're actually doing this as a fundraising event to raise awareness and funds for the treatment of Complex regional pain syndrome in the organization RSCSA, which is the national organization here in the United States for people with CRPS like me.
Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely, Sister Witch Company at eleven ninety three hooks It Road in hooks It. They've got the big lighting of the Yule Tree coming up on November twenty second from five thirty to nine thirty pm. And then they've got the I should look at the email to make sure I get it right, because I have a hard time saying it. The Magical Market, Small Business Psychic event that's going to be on November thirtieth from eleven thirty am to six pm. And you can get more information on that and everything they've got going on there at Sister Witch Company dot com.
Speaker 1: And we'll close the show out with one more Sepsis track but BPS Records. Thank you again, all three of you. This has been wonderful. We hope to see you tonight in Lowell at the Taffada Music Hall Music Hall, Yes, music Hall, Tafada Music Hall. Trying to make sure I get the name right now that we've established it's not a food, it's a what did you say it.
Speaker 2: Was a place to shine now I think also lustrous silk fabric.
Speaker 1: Yes, yes, oh yes, that's true. Yes, very good, very good, all right, And if you miss any part of today's show, it'll be up in just a little bit into my website Matt connorton dot com. And that's it for us for now. Hope to see you tonight. Bye everybody, Bye bye
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