Ionium Records
2003 has seen the rise of yet another electronic music label in Germany. Ionium Records is the brainchild of Thomas Teehaa and Sandra Knorr, and currently promoting Thomas's project T.H.Industry. With promising results so far, there are already plans underway to negotiate with other bands to expand their roster.

Richard Hobbs discovers a little more about the day to day running of Ionium Records with Sandra Knorr. (November 03)

1. Beginning with the history of Ionium Records, what were the reasons behind starting the label and what about the thoughts behind the name?
Thomas and me set up the label "Ionium Records" a half year ago. Cyrus of "The Retrosic" gave Thomas this good advice. Back then Thomas was a little bit confused of what to do - to apply with labels or not. So Cyrus gave the advice to set up a label and to make our own conditions and to transplant Thomas and my philosophy of producing, distribution and sharing money. Bands should have the possibility to get a professional promotion and distribution to express their music and their attitude of being an artist. It may sound naïve, but we are trying to act an area for this. Sharing money shouldn´t be the impulse of making music and it also shouldn´t be the prime motive of setting up a company.The name "Ionium" does not mean anything concrete. We wanted a name, that in its meaning remain relatively open and not sound too much like "gothic" or "industrial", because we understand ourselves as a label for all kinds of electronic music.

2. How much research was needed to be certain this was a good move?
Sometimes you should not consider over things to for a long time. The idea was good at the beginning, the transplantation today is much better.

3. There are currently two staff working for the label... how is the workload justified between you?
Thomas is mainly responsible for contacts inGermany, promotion, advertising partner and naturally about its own project "T.H. Industry". I am responsible for the financial part as well as for contacts abroad. We are both responsible for band applications, we discuss and decide together if they are intersting for us.

4. What genres in particular is the label going to focus on promoting?
We understand ourselves as a label for electronic music. The range is therefore quite large. In addition, our emphasis lies on EBM, Industrial, Ambient and Synthpop, but we are open for other electronic directions.

5. Tell us a little about the projects the label is currently involved with?
Ionium record presents some alternative music parties inMainz, Marburg and Frankfurt.

6. How many releases have there been?
At present we publish only Thomas's CD "Scream". But we stand in negotiations with bands, who want to sign with us.

7. How successful do you feel your promotion methods have been so far?
I think that our Promotion so far has beenvery good, because we have world-wide contacts to nameful artists, magazines and DJ's. The reactions to the CD and the label are throughout positive.

8. Do you find that the other labels within this genre are relatively easy to interact with?
We co-operate with Sonic X and Soniurm. We are very grateful to these labels for all their support and advices.

9. And what about your distribution outlets...?
We co-operate very well with Sonic X Distribution and we are very satisfied with their work.

10. So...what is planned next?
As previously mentioned, we stand in negotiations with bands, which would like to sign with us. And there will be a relaunch of our homepage.

11. Have you set yourselves any specific targets to reach over time?
We set ourselves the goal to give bands the optimum of graduation and support for their work.

12. What do you see as the biggest threat to a small label such as yours?
None. It works or it does not work. One should not commit the error and see money as the only motivation and condition, in order to set up a label.

13. What are your views on the media (papers, mags, radio..) coverage in theGermany, regarding their support towards Alternative music?
Germany has world-wide the largest fansupport of alternative music (Gothic, Industrial, Synthpop, EBM....). That settles also in various paper-magazines, innumerable on-line magazines and many on-line radio stations. The festivals are world-wide unique with festivals like "Wave-Gothik-Treffen" in Leipzig and the MeraLuna. Unfortunately alternative music does not appears so much in conventional media. At the moment it does seem to give a small upswing in german music televions, because they discovered "Within Temptation and "In Extremo" for itself. Onyx TV, is with "Schattenreich TV", the only broadcasting station, which created a complete show for the scene. Other media are rather the typical prejudices with all, which would like to bring alternative music in connection with satanism.

14. ...and what about the clubs, have many DJ's given you feedback?
Various clubs and DJ's give us exclusive positive feedback.

15. Any final words for our readers?
We want to thank all artists, magazines, radio stations and friends who always supported us. Wihout them Ionium Records wouldn´t still exist