​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. 

In May of 2023 Related Records is going to be celebrating 10 years of being a record label! WOW! I know! incredible right?! I almost didn't make it! But this year I got a bunch of stuff planned and hopefully, all of these things happen! Anyway, here's this years tentative release schedule..

I listed a bunch of Test Presses for you obsessive vinyl collecting weirdos.

Holidays and gender are bullshit! But I used to be in a hardcore/thrash/comedy/punk band that celebrated and mocked both of those things. I got a lot of mixed feelings about it but I still have a bunch of merch from when we were around. And for 1 DAY ONLY you can buy merchandse from the band at cost! No need for a coupon code or anything. Most things are only $2-$3! I literally make no money on this sale, just wanna get some of it out of my office. Please+thanks!

Unshelteredphx is collecting donations this weekend to raise funds to get some more tents for our houseless black femmes in honor of Juneteenth. If you donate $20 or more via venmo or gofundme > screenshot the donation > DM unshelteredphx the screenshot along with your shirt size > then they will make you a shirt with this sick ass print by long time friend / Phoenix legend and the best DJ I know - Djentrification.
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**This is only available to people in Phoenix, because they arent mailing shirts out to people. But let this be a reminder that you can always purchase a "Heat Is Murder" shirt from me and all that money goes to unsleteredphx​ and I do mailorder at least once a week.

New episode of The Best Friends Podcast featuring JER (aka Skatune Network​!) I am just really excited about it because it's one of the funnest episodes we've ever done. PLUS it's Pride month! PLUS it's JER's birthday month! PLUS it's Juneteenth weekend!

So there is only a few more weeks to order this sick ass mixtape of aggressive queer punk+hardcore music! I still have a handful of copies of the previous two mixtapes​ available too! All the money from the sales of these mixtapes goes directly to people who need this money that are not me.

There is this really fun show I am booking at The Trunk Space​. It's the first show I have booked since February 2020 and will probably be the first show I attend since then too!

Eichlers makes this really interesting /fucked up ska music and the live shows seem very early 2000's solo party art project > which if you know me, you know I eat that shit up!

Dynastic is like minimal pop punk with keytars - seems very best fwends. They are on tour with Eichlers and seem fun

Spicy Mayo is one of, is not THE funnest live bands in Phoenix right now and I am so excited to see them live again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for fans of ASOB, Skankin Pickle and/or Playboy Manbaby
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Presale tickets are only $10, otherwise you gotta pay $15 at the door!

​This is the third release in a series of mixtapes I am making to help different people who are in need right now. Tapes will be available for only 1 month and at the end of that period of time, all the money made from those sales will go to the person in need. This time all the money is going to Nehei Sage

If you are involved in the queer/underground/rave/dance scene, you have probably met Nehei. She's a beautiful and incredibly supportive part of the community/scene in Phoenix. She is Hinono'eino (Northern Arapaho) / Trans / 2 Spirit and is about to be kicked out of her home at the end of the month, so she really needs funds to secure new housing before then.

If you want to donate directly to her, you can Venmo: m1qua or Cashapp: $miquahjamezart

This mixtape was organized/created with my best friend Emily. It features music from artists we have interviewed on the first 2 seasons of The Best Friends Podcast + artists we really want to interview on our podcast + artists/songs that just mean a lot to our friendship of over 20 years. The artwork/layout was designed and cut+pasted by me (Ryan Avery) and the liner notes were written by Emily.

22 Tracks in total in 62 minutes. This Benefit Mix Tape is going to be done a little differently though because I was only able to make a certain amount and half of those are spoken for already. So If we sell out before then, I can make more but they will not be the cool cut+past two color j-card version. We will see if we even need to go that far.

PS: All Mixtape will come with a giant "Best Friends Podcast" sticker and a thank you card/photo of us.

I'm gonna speak candidly for a bit in this newsletter (ha! as if I am ever not writing every newsletter like a personal letter to a friend or some shit... ANYWAY!)

I hate holidays... all of them, even my birthday most years. BUT some people who are close stressed to me recently that I should take holidays more seriously and as a "business" I could/should use this holiday season to try and boost sales or something. So this newsletter is going to be all about my Related Records holiday gift suggestions.

And the reason this email is going out when it is, is because if you want to ensure you get something before "the holiday" you need to place your order before I go to the post office next on December 5th. 

I've done this before and people seem to enjoy it! So for the rest of the year 2021 I am offering these 3 different sales, which is a fantastic way to find out about new music or introduce someone else to some cool new music. OR maybe you have a loved one who just got a record, cassette and/or CD player and you want to give them a cool boost for their brand new collection!
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Or maybe you have that one super weird friend that has an 8-track player and you want to surprise them with a new (as in made in 2015) 8-track! Check out this hidden/under rated gem. VARIOUS ARTISTS "Dick" 8-TRACK

I feel like the distro​ page is overlooked a lot and there is a ton of great stuff in there.
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Maybe there is only 1-2 artists on Related Records that you like, when was the last time you checked out their artist page to see if maybe I have added something related to them for sale? The artists that have the most items to choose from are

Did you know that there is a "Send as a Gift" feature on bandcamp? Well there is, and it's great! i've used it a handful of times to send friends a single or an album that I think they would like and tomorrow (12/03/2021) is the last Bandcamp Friday of the year and possibly ever. on Bandcamp Friday, bandcamp waves all of their fees and gives 100% of the money to the artists. It rules, and it has really helped a lot of artists get through the last 2 years because so many governments all over the world have done such a shit job of taking care of their citizens during the pandemic (Which is still a thing by the way, what the fuck?!) Anyway, I pay out the artists on Related Records twice a year for digital sales and the next time I pay everyone is coming up later this month, so if you already own something digitally, this is a great way to support your favorite artists and get them some money this month. ​

Anyway, here is what people are listening to on the RR bandcamp

My best friend Emily and I have been working on a secret project for the past few months and it’s finally a reality! @thebestfriends.podcast is here! Please go follow and listen. The first episode is up now and new episodes are coming out every 1st and 3rd Friday.

For those of you that do not know, Emily and I have been making art/performing together for almost 20 years now. She was a part of the foundation for many of the bands/projects I am known for like Fathers Day, Locking Your Car Doors, The Good Shows…etc since 2005 we have had this on again/off again performance art project called “The Best Friends” and this podcast is an extension of that. We are interviewing people we admire about everything but more specifically how their relationships effect the art they make and the lives they live.

Podcast is currently available on SoundCloud and Bandcamp but will soon be available everywhere else people listen to podcasts.