by Daniel Colussi | Since its inception earlier this year, Vancouver’s Kingfisher Bluez record label has duly impressed me with its beautifully designed record sleeves and the breadth and variety of its releases. It’s a local, vinyl-only label run by a certain industrious Vancouver wunderkind who goes by the name Tim the Mute. I already considered myself a fan but Tim really blew my mind when he announced the launch of a bona-fide 7″ singles club. Here’s how it works: an $80 subscription gets you twelve 7″s of totally brand new tunes from some of Vancouver’s best and brightest new bands. The first release is none other than lo-fi rockabilly crooner Dirty Beaches (a damn fine way to kick things off, if I do say so myself). Interested parties can view a complete list of the upcoming club release schedule and/or to sign up for the club over here, but first read on as Tim gives us the goods on why the single life is the good life.

You’ve already put out about a half dozen 7″s — what made you want to start a singles club? I love joining singles clubs, and I thought it would be so fun to curate a neat little selection of my favourite current Vancouver bands to show to the world. It’s also great to be able to preserve the 2012 Vancouver DIY indie rock scene, frozen in time, on a stack of fresh wax! Vancouver has a great tradition of era-defining compilations, and I wanted to put my two bits in and say why all these bands are important and also have something to look back on when everyone is old and all the bands have broken up.

Dirty Beaches | Elizabeth’s Theme

When’s the first singles club 7″ coming out? And what’s the release schedule? The first single is coming out in September, and they will be released every month after that for a year. There will also be a bonus single and other randomly distributed treats for the good people who subscribe early on. They are all one-sided and some have 1 song and a couple have 2 songs. They all have their own cover art and all the songs are currently exclusive to these singles.

Capitol 6 | Playing Dead

How’d you decide what bands you wanted to work with? Any particular rationale or litmus test? I chose all my favourite bands! I didn’t use any electronic stuff, even though I think Vancouver has some of the best around. I basically chose indie rock and punk bands that embody the DIY attitude. Most of the artists record at home or in Capitol 6’s case, a shed behind their house! They all play shows in Vancouver’s parks, rooftops, backyards, and living rooms. All of them are great, approachable, very cool people! All the musicians have been so supportive and they all get what it’s about and I think everyone involved feels like they are in good company.

Needles | Pins

Daniel Colussi is the Music Editor of Scout Magazine and a contributing writer to Ion Magazine. A veteran employee of Zulu Records and tuneage aficionado, he DJs on an infrequent basis (about four times a year) and is a musician around town who plays in several ensembles.