"In Defense of Cats" is the new 7" by FATTY CAKES & THE PUFF PASTRIES featuring 2 songs - "Cat Nap" and "Mistress 23" is coming out on April 17th!

This has been in the works since 2024 (I actually looked through my old emails to find the first email exchange about this and it was January 24th, 2024! Though I know we talked about it over Instagram + text messages before then, but... yeah, holy shit!) - The band was currently working on a new album and had was scheduled to play with some amazing bands in the upcoming months like BRATMOBILE, THE SPITS and MARK SULTAN BBQ - they were hoping to have something new to sell at these gigs so the plan was to do a limited run of these songs on a 7" lathe since the turnaround on those are much faster than vinyl but the sound quality is not as great and they are much more expense (per unit) to produce. 

After a lot of back and forth on weighing pros and cons and trying to figure out the artwork, time passing by, discussing best timeline for things...etc It was decided to just release it on vinyl sometime in 2025 instead - no rush, since the band was still working on a full length and were taking a break from playing after their show with BRATMOBILE and THE PARANOYDS on May 23rd, 2024.

Then the discussion was like "I don't know when or if we are going to actually finish this full length and we really want to utilize this amazing artwork from our friend CRAIG CALDERWOOD made for it. So I was sent this beautiful artwork that was made by Craig and displayed in an art show they were a part of back in October, 2023 and I was asked to do all the lettering for it. So I spent a couple weeks near the end of 2024 working on that but it still wasn't until July, 2025 that we had everything ordered and paid for to get this 7" made.

There was still no real rush since the band has been on hiatus since 2024. (All the members have been busy with their own creative and fulfilling endeavors in the meantime, they are all so fucking cool) But hopefully the excitement around this new 7" will motivate and inspire them to do more as a band again. 
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Pre-orders are available now on the Related Records website and on the bands bandcamp page.

QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT​ are touring the West Coast again and I am so excited about it! They are playing so many of their favorite familiar spots and with so many of their old friends and these shows are simply not to be missed!

Go to as many as you can!

You should check out TUCSON ZINE FEST! Saturday, March 28th from 10am - 4pm at the Steinfeld Warehouse (101 W 6th St #100, Tucson, AZ 85701) RELATED RECORDS will be there with a table full of vinyl, tapes, cds, stickers, buttons and of course ZINES​! (hopefully 1-2 new ones by then too!) along with SHAWNTE ORION who has a split 7" with SWEAT LODGE that recently sold out on Related Records (though I believe he still has some copies) and runs a poetry zine pressing company called RINKY DINK PRESS that will have a table at this same fest (hopefully close to the Related Records table so we can hang out all day together!)

I also wanted to share that there is still a handful of Riley Mix CD​ available. Enjoy a mix CD of songs that make me miss my dog that passed away in November - mostly, weirdo, sadboi, music.

MALAPHOR is the new project from Related Records Alumni Brendan Casey & Patrick Webb (of San Francisco's TURQOUIZ NOIZ) and friends. The music they are making is a lot of fun and reminds me of how indie-pop groups used to sound in the early 2000's. The songs vary in sound but all fit under the umbrella of pop in the same way everything artists like  JASON ANDERSON, KATY DAVIDSON or (Related Records adjacent family member) ZACH BURBA (of iji) make is considered pop. (do not take that to mean MALAPHOR sounds like any of those artists, cause while they could probably share the same bill, they aren't the same sound. But they are all pop, I hope that makes sense) I think it rules and I hope you do too.

Here are some words from Brendan about the history/formation of the group if you want to know a little more.

"MALAPHOR had been a name I’d been casually kicking around for a number of years as a project title for someday, but it wasn’t until COVID hit and that the project grew wings. In order to keep my sanity (or at least in order to lose it in the most productive way), I practiced piano for like 6 hours a day, mostly DR. JOHN and New Orleans style funk guys as well as Chopin and some other Romantic classical guys. I figured the dreamy surrealist word games I’m drawn to would make a perfect lyrical cherry on top.  

Meanwhile, the drummer from a prior project (fellow Related Records band TURQOUIZ NOIZ) Patrick, kept asking me if I’d ever want to jam on any new songs I was writing. I wasn’t sure how drums would fit into this project, but I knew that Patrick and I always had good chemistry. Sure enough, in a short span of time, we’d jelled into a distinguished goulash of the highest order.

Fairly soon after, I was trying to find the best way to combine the glammy piano Bowie songs - the lush golden soul of Stevie Wonder - the haunting mystery of EMAHOY TSEGE MARIAM GEBRU - the sticky lo-fi hazed-out funk of Sly Stone - the spiritually penetrating sounds of all THE ETHIOPIQUES and the soul stultifying harmonies of everyone’s favorite Liverpool lads. 

​Meanwhile, Lady Luck cast a fine life-line in our direction. I met Kiril from the marvelous local choir I’m in in Oakland, THE FREE KEY CHOIR​. They offered their guitar services if needed, I passed, saying we needed a bassist. Then I realized they could probably play bass if needed and before long the three of us began engaging in sip-fueled sessions of mind-melding. We’re currently rounding the bend on our first full length, replete with horn and string sections and a veritable plethora of fine guest guitarists and saxophonists. For lovers of untethered dreamscapes, keep your ears to the wind"

They are having a record release show on Saturday, February 20th at Eli's Mile High Club. More info can be found on this show poster.

I haven't sent out a newsletter since October and there is a bunch of new stuff added to the online store. I am sorry for not sending an email about it, I don't like bugging people like this, but I am also realizing that more and more people (in this realm of weirdo DIY music and art) are leaving social media and so maybe I should be sharing more e-mail newsletters to get the word out about what's going on with the Related Records family. What do you think? I love talking about this type of shit.

A 12 page zine made up of text messages between Ryan Avery​ and their brother George about the movie Heretic, missionary work and the traumatic things that come with "serving" one.

For those of you unfamiliar with the TESTIMONY zine series, there have been 4 issues so far. All of them feature wonderful mix of artists, sharing their experiences and expressions related to the religion or faiths or spirituality they grew up with. There is a fair amount of trauma related stuff (which is to be expected) but also a good mix of humor and enlightenment. I honestly feel like there is something for everyone in these collections and I am excited to finally be working on a fifth issue after over 2 years since the volume 4 was released!

Previous issues have featured work from: Michael Patterson, Dorian Wood, Elle Murtagh, Tyler Jacobs, Wayne Michael Reich, Jonathan Lees, Cia Lord, Emily Spetrino, Alex Halaszyn, Destiny Rhinehart, Ronda Hampton, Sara Avery, Peter Kulikowski, Nic Jacobsen, Emma Bush, Connor Descheemaker, Shamika L. Moore, Mark Amura, Dustin Gardy, Joseph Tepperman, Lonna Kelley, Drew Danburry, Vishinna Crowsmith, Bentley Monet and Ryan Avery
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Please help spread the word and/or contribute something yourself. The deadline is Sunday, December 7th. I am hoping to have these finished by the first month of the new year!

New LP from QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT "Chrystal Crunchy" is now available in the online store. We only have a handful of copies though as well as only a handful of copies of "Spellcaster II: Death In Space" and "Goblin Alert"​

4 new sticker designs with messages meant to stir your emotions. All stickers are sold at cost.

The first pressing of the new album by DIMITRIAM & THE BUG CLUB "Instant Coffee" sold out months before it's release date! So we had to make more! 100 more copies are available now and they are shipping out this Monday. All tapes come with a free download code, but if you prefer to order through Bandcamp, today is the day to do it because it is Bandcamp Friday!

I just added copies of POTSHOT’s album “Dance to the Potshot Record” and copies of I VOTED FOR KODOS “Not Penis Cream” LPs to the online store. Both of these albums are very important to a very specific era of early 2000s skapunk fans. When the rest of the music industry was shitting on the genre and declaring it “dead” these artists kept going hard. I think it is very cool and bizarre that these records are now available on vinyl.

I also got some new variants of the BRIDGE CITY SINNERS "self titled" LP and finally restocked some copies of Knowledge “A Gift Before I Go” 

I'm going to be vending at PHX ZINE FEST on Sunday October 26th at Rocket Space Gallery in Tempe, AZ - 37 W Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 - it's free, it's all ages and it is a mask required event.
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I'll have stuff from the label, some distro stuff, new zines, old zines, buttons, enamel pins, heat is murder shirts​ and 4 new sticker designs.

There is a new compilation that came out yesterday called "Recherché"​ - it includes 16-22 unreleased (and soon to be released) recordings from artists in the Related Records Family. It is available on limited edition cassettes (and might come out on CD later down the line) and all copies come with a free download code of all 22 tracks.

I listed a bunch of zines that I recently took out of my personal collection at the prices I paid for them (or less). Below are just a handful, but you can see all of them here.

I have been a fan of Dimitri and the different bands/art projects he's been involved with since the early 2000's. Not only would I see him at any cool show I went to in Tucson for, but a lot of the times he was playing in the opening band! Most notably being SUGARBUSH (experimental funky, disco type punk band fronted by two very tall identical twins - super fun to dance to) and THE GALACTIC FEDERATION OF LOVE (like if the Beatles were really into conspiracy theories). Around 2004-2005 is when I first heard the band he is best known for GOLDEN BOOTS, which is an alt-country, indie pop and sometimes surfy type band with his friend Ryan. I've been a loyal fan ever since.

In 2021 Dimitri shared this new solo thing he had been working on with me. The project was called DIMITRIAM and the album worth of songs he was recording at home was called "Bug Spring" - it was one of the funnest lofi pop albums I had ever heard. I was very stoked on it (in fact it is one of my most listened to albums on Bandcamp.) Dimitri asked me I was interested in putting it out, I remember saying something like "yes, cause I love it, but what are your plans with this project? Are you going to play shows? Are you going to tour?" he replied "I don't know yet, I might not, I will probably just sell some copies when I go on tour with Golden Boots" so I foolishly declined. 
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DIMITRIAM & THE BUG CLUB wouldn't start playing shows or writing music as a 3-piece band for another couple years. But when I finally got to see them in 2023 at the MOONE RECORDS 10-year anniversary show, I was so stoked. The songs are so good, so fun, so catchy and just all around great!

This new album is made up of studio quality, full band recordings of all their best songs right now. The first pressing is limited to only 50 copies on this beautiful green/clear cassette shell. The j-cards are hand screen printed by the band and all copies come with download cards that are printed on pink craft paper. 
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The album doesn't come out until October 10th, 2025. But all pre-orders will be mailed out during the last week of September. The band will be doing a mini southwest tour with HI MY NAME IS RYAN supporting them. More info on that when the tour dates are finalized. The tapes can be purchased on the bands bandcamp page or on the Related Records website here.

I removed all of the music I have made from Spotify last week, it can take up to 30 days for it to completely disappear so it still might be on there at the time of this email. But no more music from DRUNK & HORNY, FATHERS DAY, HI MY NAME IS RYAN, THE TERRIS or THE CULLENS on Spotify. There are just way too many things over the years, that they have done that do not sit well with me enough to keep my music with their service. I know my weird little music and art projects that have less than 1,000 streams per song are going to have much (if any) impact on the company but to know even a small percentage of my art is contributing to Military AI technology, or really anything that disgrace of humanity Daniel Ek does. I do not want to help them at all.

This is not to add or give shame to anyone who still uses Spotify, I understand the convenience of having access to millions of songs for $14 a month or whatever. But as artists, I really don't think we should be helping these guys, they don't need our help, I hope more artists remove their catalogs from Spotify as well.

I listed test presses of the two newest releases on Related Records. SWAN REAL "Growing" and THE SLUGS​ "A Song For Every Feeling" - There are test presses for a handful of other releases below for those of you that are into that sort of thing.

​You should come out to this show on Monday, July 14th.

​My friend DEREK ZANETTI (from THE HOMELESS GOSPEL CHOIR) is going on tour with his friend DANCE MYTH (from the band LISTENER) and they are playing in Mesa, AZ at The Nile Theater Coffee Shop with HI MY NAME IS RYAN (that's me!) and DINOSAUR LOVE who are both on Related Records!

Derek and I have been internet friends for over 5 years and in the early months of the pandemic he played the first Hi My Name Is Ryan Digital European Tour show that I organized in May, 2020.
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We still haven't hung our in real life and so this is exciting for me! The Nile Theater still hasn't posted about the show anywhere online or even on their website outside of making an initial ticket link that still doesn't say who the local support is, which is very frustrating and a great reminder to me on why I really dislike booking and promoting shows outside of a house or DIY space. This show will be a special night for all who attend though and it is rare these days to see me perform because of my schedule of school and work...etc

I got some new stickers available for those of you that like decorating your belongings or public spaces with bits of information and wisdom.

I got some new releases from my friend Cher Strauberry to distro from her bedroom label Diddley Squat - 2 releases from her new band WIFEY and an audio-zine by Cher herself that features live recordings and interviews with all kinds of fun people like John Waters and AJJ!

I got some re-stocks from my friend Andy at Toxic Toast records last week. Including new variants of the GOODWIN CLUB "Soda" LP​. Check out the re-stocks below.

I found a handful of copies of DINOSAUR LOVE​'s album "The Gospel" that have been out of stock for years. They were buried in my office closet because I was going to make more copies of the "book safe" edition with some old encyclopedias I have, but that shit was way too time consuming so I never did.

The new SWAN REAL​ 7" comes out officially on Sunday June 8th, but all the pre-orders are going out later this week! If you live in New York you should go to the 7" release show! Get your tickets here!

THE SLUGS LP'S MADE IT TO THE USA FINALLY! I mailed out all the pre-orders earlier this week, so you should be getting your copy soon, if you ordered one! The band also made the rest of their copies available to folks that want to order in the UK with cheaper shipping on their bandcamp page! Get one here!

Thanks again for all of your patience with this record. It's so good! My copy has been on repeat since Tuesday! I hope you all enjoy the extras I included for the long wait!

Swan is an amazing singer/songwriter and musician who has been playing in all kinds of fun bands and music projects for the past couple of decades. We met each other back in 2006 ( I think?) when she was playing in the freak-folk band Little Teeth, I put out a split cassette for her old short lived band Basement and Human Behavior in 2015 and since then she has played in a bunch of other great groups including country singer Myra Byrne and the amazing ska punk band Kmoy. Then a couple years ago I see her posting these videos of her playing solo and singing these amazing songs, but it wasn't until I saw her singing this power-pop song "growing up" that I was like "oh shit, this rules! I need to put this out!"
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7" EP for "Growing Up" is officially coming out on Sunday, June 8th but I should be getting it in the mail sometime next week. EP includes 4 songs on the record + 5 sings on the digital download.

Here are some images with information about the new shirts. They are being printed next week by the printmaking students at Metro Arts and myself. If you have a business that is interested in wholesaling/distributing these shirts let me know as soon as possible, because I am only printing a handful of extras.

Alright so here is the timeline of what has been going on with me and the pressing plant since starting this order with them in August, 2024. Just to give you all full transparency on this album.
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• AUGUST 27TH: Order is placed with Monotype Pressing.
• OCTOBER 24TH: Records are completely paid for, artwork is finalized, lacquers and plates are shipped off from the USA to POLAND where Monotype is located.
• NOVEMBER 25TH: Plates and Lacquers are finally in the hands of the pressing plant. (Due to issues with customs, it took over a month for them to arrive)
• DECEMBER 15TH: I am emailed by the pressing plant that the tests presses are being made this day. Once I get them back and approve them then there is 3-4 weeks before they go into production and will be shipped out to me.
• JANUARY 7TH: I email Monotype to check in on the test presses because I still hadn't received them (assuming there may have been a delay because of the holiday or something)
• JANUARY 8TH: I am told the test presses are finished and everything else (meaning jackets, center labels...etc) is finished Apologies for the test presses not being shipped out yet, but they will definitely go out this week.
• JANUARY 21ST: I reach out because I still haven't received anything
• FEBRUARY 4TH: I reach out again because I still haven't received anything, not even a response from my rep, who usually gets back to me within 48 hours.
• FEBRUARY 5TH: I get an email from a different rep apologizing explaining they are going through some changes and they will get back to me soon with details on my order.
• FEBRUARY 10TH: I follow up saying "still haven't heard anything, what's going on?"
• FEBRUARY 11TH: I get a response from someone else saying the test presses are scheduled to ship out on February 26th.
• FEBRUARY 12TH: I write back giving them the timeline of things for this project and explain how frustrating this is.
• MARCH 3RD: I get the test presses, they sound great! I approve the project
• MARCH 5TH: I am told the project is going into production in the next couple of days.
• MARCH 16TH: I reach out asking if there is any updates on the project.
• MARCH 18TH: I am told I need to be patient with them, the project still hasn't gone into production but they will have an ETA for everything by this coming weekend.
• MARCH 24TH: I reach out to see what's up, weekend is over and I still haven't heard anything.
• MARCH 27TH: I reach out again, still no response.

I heard through the grapevine that Monotype Pressing was acquired by another company in November, 2024 and if that is the case, it would explain why I lost my rep and why things slowed down significantly. This shit is out of my control, they usually do really great work and I (as well as sister label Gilgongo Records) have had a great experience with this pressing plant with good prices and average turnaround time being 5-6 weeks. But this is just so aggravating and I am so upset for everyone who has pre-ordered this LP and upset on behalf of THE SLUGS because they have album release shows booked in May and could've (and should've) had these records months ago now.

So here is what I'm gonna do to try and make this up to everyone who has pre-ordered. I am going to add a Related Records LP (or 7") for every month you have waited since your order was placed. So if you placed your order in October, 2024 and I get the LPs by sometime in April, you will get 6 extra records (4 LPs + 2 7"s), if you placed your order in November you'll get 5 extra records (4 LPs + 1 7"),  if you place your order before the end of March and I get the LPs before the end of April, you will get 1 extra record and so on. All pre-orders are also going to be getting a special SLUGS 1" button set.

Again, I am so sorry this has taken so long and thank you for being so patient and understanding.

I have been adding more Trunk Space deadstock​ to the website over the past couple of weeks. Check it out if you are into DIY punk, indie rock, noise, folk, twee and experimental music from that early 2000's scene in Phoenix. A lot of deep cuts in here.

I restocked a handful of distro stuff last month. Check it out!

I recently added a ton of 8-tracks to the Related Records Discogs store​. Mostly country, easy listening and rock n' roll. 

In August, 2020 I put out their 2nd EP on vinyl titled "Don't Touch Me I'm Too Slimy!" and a few months later they said "we've begun working on a new full length album!" and I said "Hooray! I cannot wait to hear it and I hope you'll let me put it out!" then after years of little check-ins here and there, Lib and Phoebe sent me an email with everything finally finished! All the tracks, 90% of the artwork, title, center labels...etc just like - ready to go! and it rules! The album is called "A Song For Every Feeling" and it's because they wrote all of these songs while going through some very big life changes - which brought on a wide variety of feelings and I think it came out perfect! You can currently hear 2 songs from the album on their bandcamp page. But the full length comes out officially on Friday, December 6th. **FINGERS CROSSED** that I have the records by then! They are shipping from Poland, I was told they went into production last week and am hoping to get some tracking info this coming week! Pre-Orders will be sent out as soon as I get them!

I was cleaning up my office (aka Related Records HQ) and found a handful of stickers that had been sold out for a while.

• The Andres Parada sticker is a quote from this great joke he told a couple years ago that took a whole week to get to the punch line. (Andres Parada is from the doom/folk band Human Behavior, now he does comedy)
• The K O R N sticker is something I was doing years ago, but kind of lost interest in. There have been 5 different k o r n sticker designs over the years and a t-shirt. But I don't have any plans on making more anytime soon, if ever.
• I found 2 previously sold out "Stop Calling The Cops" sticker designs. (Red/White/Black and Blue/White/Black) But there are still plenty of the newest design available that is Yellow/Red/Black. (Stop Calling The Cops design from my long time friend, artist and political activist Protest Papi)

This is exciting for a couple of reasons. 

1. It's Mary Ochers first time playing in the USA in over 5 years!

2. Her new albums are so good! and are both getting a special limited edition cassette version released on Related Records specifically for this tour! (There won't be a pre-order available because 90% of the stock is going to Mary directly for this tour.)

01.16.25 - LA - 2220arts - tickets
01.17.25 - Long Beach - Vine
01.18.25 - San Diego - Soda Bar - tickets / RSVP
01.19.25 - Phoenix - MySpace - tickets // RSVP
01.21.25 - San Francisco - The Lab - tickets / RSVP
01.23.25 - Portland - The Fixin' To - tickets
01.25.25 - Seattle - Fremont Abbey Arts Center - tickets / RSVP
01.26.25 - Vancouver - The Cobalt
01.28.25 - Calgary - Palomino

04.02.25 - Belfast - Black Box Theatre
05.02.25 - Glasgow - Glad Cafe - tickets/RSVP
06.02.25 - Newcastle - Cobalt Studios
07.02.25 - Manchester - Eagle Inn
08.02.25 - Birmingham - Centrala - tickets
09.02.25 - London - Cafe Oto - tickets
10.02.25 - Hull - The New Adelphi - tickets / RSVP
​12.02.25 - Brighton - The Rose Hill - tickets / RSVP

Related Records will be set up at PHX FAT MARKET on Saturday December 7th. I will be sharing a tent with my favorite local jewelry maker LATER OPERATOR! ​We will each have a table set up with our goods PLUS we will have a big clothing rack filled with our clothes (sizes XL-6XL) that will be for sale. ​

Then on Sunday, January 19th I am booking the Mary Ocher Phoenix show! It has been over 10 years since she last played in Phoenix and every time has just been so cool/memorable. The local support is from 2 of my favorite local bands (both of which are pretty new bands, but not new to performing)

GOHNE - featuring Lonna Kelley (from Cherie Cherie, Giant Sand and frequent collaborator/featured guest with Treasure Mammal and almost every artist on Moone Records), Jay Hufman (from Gene Tripp, Cherie Cherie and frequent collaborator with Golden Boots), Wally Boudway (from Wooden Indian, Slow Moses, Califone and frequent collaborator with Yairms as well as like... every other super talented musician in Phoenix) - Here is an okay video of them playing inside an old train station for Moone Records Fest last year. Every time I have seen them play it has been haunting and beautiful.
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I AM MISS HAVISHAM - this band features 2 artists who I have been a fan of for years but still don't know all that well. Bailey (aka Kylo Gun) and Ava Fox have both been playing in local punk bands since they could hold their instruments and they both have had that fierce / honest / no bullshit type attitude about them that seems very genuine and real to me, so whenever they have something new they are working on, I try to book them when it makes sense and works out. This new project though is the coolest + most exciting to me, with I AM MISS HAVISHAM I see and hear elements of bands like Elastica, Pere Ubu, Mika Miko, Automatic, The Muffs, but with a good mix of like art school and a sprinkle of Negativland mixed in. Watch this video of their first show and you'll see what I mean - I think they really should be playing every good show happening in Phoenix right now, cause this shit rules.

Life has been pretty stressful and scary this month. Sara and I got COVID-19 earlier this month, it was our first time getting it. We got Paxlovid and after like 5 days I was feeling better, Sara was too but then she got rebound symptoms (which is common with Paxlovid so be aware of that if you take it) - except her symptoms came back way harder and scarier and she was unable to keep anything down for like 4-5 days, had an ongoing fever of 100-103 that whole time as well as having intense full body pain and migraines...etc I had to miss a lot of work, had to drop my classes for the semester because I got so far behind (currently working on a compassionate withdrawal though, if you don't know what that is and you're in school look it up! it's amazing and no one tells you about it! It's kinda fucked up that it's not common knowledge.) and I had to leave PHX Zine Fest​ last Sunday after only being there for an hour, so I could take Sara to the ER for the 3rd time in 4 days at that point.

Sara is doing much better now, she is finally able to eat again, she is finally able to get more than an hour of sleep at a time without waking up in pain or in a puddle of sweat from a disgusting fever...etc I was able to work all 4 shifts I was scheduled for this week at my day job. Tomorrow we are going to try cleaning the dogs and/or the house!

ANYWAY! I was planning on/expecting to make a couple hundred dollars at PHX Zine Fest which was going to pay for a good chunk of the next release that is coming out on Related Records. But because I had to leave after an hour or so, I have dug through my personal record collection and listed a bunch of records on Discogs.

2 of my biggest sellers when vending is stickers and buttons, I get it, they are small, cheap, easy to carry, great for a cute little gift...etc but they don't typically sell very well online. A few weeks before PHX Zine Fest, I made a bunch of buttons and ordered a handful of new stickers. Since I was unable to sell them like I thought I would, I scanned and listed them here.

Every little bit helps. Thanks for the support and the kind words from everyone who reached out. Full transparency, it was very very scary for a couple days, life isn't always great, but I am happy that it is sometimes and that makes me want to keep living it. I hope you do too. I am excited about these new releases and I think you will really dig them. I hope to have a pre-order set up for the first of three by the first week of October!

​You should come by PHX Zine Fest on Sunday September 15th between 11:00am-4:00pm! I will be vending for Related Records next to my day-job Bagelfelds! I will have Related Records catalog and distro items as well as stickers, buttons and zines (of course!)

I got some new enamel pins for sale on the website. All of them are only $9.99 each.

and don't forget to grab one of these amazing Related Records family member enamel pins. You can pick from all 8 different members of the family!

Next week I will be moderating a panel with local chef's Charlie Blonkenfeld, Crystal Kass and Elle Murtagh. We will be discussing the local food/restaurant scene, shit talking food fads and more! Then there is going to be a zine making workshop run by Charissa Lucille of Wasted Ink Zine Distro. There will also be food for all attendees and everyone who comes gets a copy of the second issue of "If You Know, You Know" Bagelfelds Zine that I made last month + an electronic community food zine.

​The event takes place at Changing Hands bookstore in Phoenix and runs from 5pm-7pm. This event was organized by Comal Food Books & Goods..

Quintron & Miss Pussycat are on tour right now! Check them out if you're in any of these cities! They will have copies of the "Commercial Jingles" 7" that Related Records put out last year.
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Fri 6/14 – Oakland, @The Stork Club w/Diesel Dudes (featuring TABOR MOUNTAIN!)
Sat 6/15 – Arcata @The Mini-plex
Sun 6/16 – Portland, @The Hollywood Theater
Mon 6/17 – Olympia, @The Crypt
Tue 6/18 – Seattle, @Sunset Tavern
Fri 6/21 – Minneapolis, @Mortimers
Sat 6/22 – Milwaukee, @Promises
Sun 6/23 – Chicago, @Co-Prosperity
Tue 6/25- Indianapolis, @State Street Pub
Wed 6/26 – Cincinnati, @The Lodge
Thu 6/27 – Nashville, @Soft Junk
Fri 6/28 – Memphis, on a RIVER BOAT for Goner Records 20-year anniversary party!!
Sat 6/29 – Houma, @Intracoastal Club

The new EP from Mark's (of BARRY and SHARING IS CARING fame!) new musical endeavor MY EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION is here! 6 amazingly catchy brit-pop-dance tracks. For fans of George Michael, Pet Shop Boys or just if you enjoy singing alone to yourself or to your pets! All cassettes come with a free download code - which includes 4 bonus tracks!

​I am booking the Phoenix date and will be there selling records and tapes all night. ALSO any pre-orders of the new Tabor Mountain "Twilight Apologies" LP will get one of the show posters as well!

​Welcome the newest member of the Related Records family, MY EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION!

My Executive Dysfunction is the solo project of Mark Amura (formerly of BARRY and SHARING IS CARING)

Mark makes the funnest + catchiest British pop music ever! The new self titled EP is going to be out on cassette and streaming platforms on May 3rd.

In the meantime we got a handful of singles we’re releasing before then to get you hyped about it. First single is “The Sun Comes Up” which is currently available for streaming on all platforms

RIYL: poppy + beautiful songs by Blur, The Pet Shop Boys, Biz, George Michael or dancing + singing for your pets when you’re home alone.

In February 2022 Quintron & Miss Pussycat released this amazing single from their alter ego project called Bobby M.G. called "Mardi Gras Creep" - Then about a month ago they released it independently on a limited edition 7" and they sold out within a couple days, but I got a handful of copies to distro. 

Aside from that Bobby M.G. 7" there is nothing "new" but I did get some copies of these records back in stock that were previously sold out.

Second thing! - Tabor Mountain is going on tour in March with Hot Leather from Los Angeles, CA. I don't have all the info for these shows yet BUT if you follow Tabor Mountain on instagram I am sure you will see the info there when it comes.

• 3/20- Las Vegas, NV
• 3/21- Tucson, AZ
• 3/22- Phoenix, AZ
• 3/23- San Diego, CA
• 3/24 - Long Beach, CA

MIA LOUCKS has a new LP out on my friend's (and next door neighbor's) label Gilgongo (who also put out her first album "Sister Honey Demos" on vinyl after hearing the cassette Related Records put out in 2015. I think this is the best stuff she's done so far and am so incredibly happy it's out now. It is limited to only 200 copies which is why it is quite a bit more than the first 12" Gilgongo released. But both are now available on the Related Records website and the Gilgongo Records online store.

If you follow Related Records on instagram​, you probably already saw me share this, but in case you don't use instagram - I got a bunch of new records added to the online store - Check it out here! or just look at all the items listed below if you're only interested in what's new.

​Hey! before you get into the rest of the newsletter, please note, if you place an online order through the Related Records website, Discogs store, Depop or Bandcamp AFTER Tuesday December 12th, it will not be shipped out until December 27th and you probably will not get it until 2024. I won't have access to my office or inventory from December 13th-26th. This is important if you care about getting stuff in time for holiday bullshit. Get your orders in now!

​I decided to make a whole page on the Related Records website about all the different playlists I have made and continue to make. You can check it out here.
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I also wanna make it clear that Related Records does not endorse or support Spotify. They are an awful company that makes billions of dollars on the backs of hardworking musicians, producers, fans, labels... basically anyone who contributes or works within the music industry - Spotify is making money off you whether you want them to or not. BUT I also recognize that they are affordable and easy to use, which is why so many music fans use it and why I have created these playlists for you to enjoy. If you are a Spotify user, no shame or hard feelings meant for you. But fuck Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon forever. 

​Patrick Tabor and I have known each other for over a decade now, which is really bizarre to think about since we have only seen/hung out with each other maybe 4-5 times in person. He used to play in this freaky psychedelic electronic pop performance art party band called Creepy Marbles. They released an EP on Holy Page Records in 2011 that is so incredible. Seeing them live was very epic, freeing and liberating. Patrick and I became friends and have followed each others musical careers ever since. Patrick started doing this solo project called Tabor Mountain around the tail end of Creepy Marbles and I loved it even more but in a totally different way. Although musically you can tell the two are related, Tabor Mountain is much more soulful, passionate and smart. 
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In 2012-2013 Patrick started working with his friend Douglas Du Fresne and they started 2 different electronic projects that are like a ying and yang to each other. Morning Hands - which is more of a dream pop / vaporwave / posi-motivational type thing and then Diesel Dudes which is like a synth punk / industrial / dungeon muscleman type thing. Both of which I am very into and only mention here so you can get into them too.

​The new album is called Twilight Apologies and it will be available for pre-order on October 6th! It is officially coming out on November 3rd, but if I get them before then, so will you if you pre-order. Expect another email about that as it all gets closer and in the meantime check out this sick music video for the song "Already Dead" which is going to be on the new album.

​I made a post about this on Instagram last Sunday (September 17th) and I meant to send a newsletter out about it back then, but I've been so stupid busy with school and work recently that I haven't been able to. ANYWAY, check out everything in the distro here​. Or if you're only interested in the new shit, just scroll down to view it all.

​The newest issue of TESTIMONY is here! A 40 page zine featuring original art, poetry and essays from 10 different artists all centered around religion. Featuring Cia Lord, Emily Spetrino, Alex Halaszyn, Destiny Rhinehart, Ronda Hampton, Sara Avery, Peter Kulikowski, Nic Jacobsen, Emma Bush and Ryan Avery.
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Multiple pieces in this issue brought me to tears and made me smile real big. One of the guys who works at the print shop I get these printed from said "I always get so excited when I get to print these zines for you. This issue in particular has the best drawing of SATAN I have ever seen and it looks like it was done in crayons!" (it was!) My next door neighbor said "These little magazines of yours are just getting better and better. I particularly liked the pieces by Emma and Destiny, also... I liked all the boobs." Check it out for yourself, let me know what you think!

​I got some new stickers and buttons made recently. Check them out!

​PHX ZINE FEST was amazing! Something like 1,000+ people came between the two days and all of them wore masks the whole time! PLUS I sold a bunch of merchandise and have now updated the inventory for all of it. Here is what I am down to less than 9 copies of, so get these while you still can!

I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION!
This record is now streaming everywhere! so make sure to add tracks from it into your playlists and radio shows...etc

​IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR IN AZ...
Where it is hotter than literal hell and people in our community are dying every day from the heat and lack of services!

If you live in Arizona please consider taking some frozen water bottles with you when you leave the house or donating supplies to unshelteredphx (they are always looking for walkers, canes, bike lights, tents, tarps, pepper spray, shoes, clothing and hygene related materials)
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Here is a link to their Amazon wishlist
​Here is a link to their venmo if you want to donate money to help them buy things for our unsheltered community.

AND REMEMEBER

​This show is happening in Phoenix!

​You should go if you're able to! it's gonna be a lot of fun!

This month marks 10 years of Related Records existing with the release of RR001 - DRUNK & HORNY "A Drunk & Horny Pool Party with Ryan & Andrew" being released on CD and Cassette back in 2013. So to celebrate, I have organized a compilation that has been requested by Drunk & Horny​ die-hard fans over the years, made up of all the songs D&H would cover when they played live. Because unless you were a die-hard fan, you probably didn't realize half the catalog was made up of cover songs. Taking notes from some of Ryan & Andrew's favorite artists like Tiny Tim, The Specials and The Cramps figuring, why write a song when you could just change the style/pace and structure of a lesser known song by a better artist? ANYWAY, I feel like pretty much anyone who listens to this compilation will be surprised by at least a few of these tracks. And for those of you interested in knowing even more history of the duo, make sure you read the extensive liner notes at the bottom of the page.