1. Beginning with the history of SPR. When did the label start and what were your reasons behind it?
SPR started in 1990. For my main band DE/VISION I tried to find a record label, but it wasn’t so easy. Then DE/VISION decided to record a Vinyl Maxi single, and for this release we needed a label. So I founded Synthetic Product Records. Later in 1991 DE/VISION used this label again for their first MCD “boy on the street”. We also had no distributor and so DE/VISION signed a record deal with Strange Ways. In 1996 I quit my programmer job and had full time for DE/VISION and enough time to reactivate SPR for giving other bands a platform.

2. Will the label always focus solely on forms of electronic music?
I guess it will, because that’s the music that I like and that I can promote. We have a name and an image and many fans who like the program of SPR.

3. Do you offer / do you plan to offer other services than just the label?
Beside my job as the manager of DE/VISION I also do management for other bands, we have a publishing division and a mailorder.

4. Who are the bands currently signed to the label?
DE/VISION (some cds), Mesh (till 1999), Backlash, Carpe diem, Colony5, L’Avantgarde, L’Image, Red Flag.

5. How many releases have you now available?
30 CDs are available in the shops through a distributor. We have also some releases that just can be ordered directly from us.

6. De Vision were the first band to sign to your label and are still very closely connected to you since moving to a major label, how did this strong working relationship come about?
I’ve known the DE/VISION guys long before they made music. We are working together now over 12 years. First everything was new and unknown for us, but we grow together.
Not every product can be released on a major label. “Remixed” is a good example, because this CD just contains old songs, songs written before DE/VISION where signed to a major company.

7. SPR also gave Mesh their big break in Germany, does it make you feel proud to of played a part in their rise towards a major signing as well?
Of course it makes me proud. It’s a typical situation, the indie-labels build up a band, and the majors grab them away. Changing to a major company is a risk, sometimes it works, sometimes not. Some bands changed to early, some bands come back earlier than expected.

8. So…what do you look for in a band to make them worthy of signing to SPR?
The music must be electronic based, there must be a voice. There should be a platform for a good communication. The bands should have a finished recorded album where we (SPR) hear some songs that could be released as a single. There are many other points, but 99 of 100 bands can’t fulfil this.

9. And your views on artistic freedom are…?
In these hard times, I can’t care so much about artistic freedom. I’m not doing this for fun and the bands also shouldn’t do it when they contact us. The good thing is, that I never had problems with my bands concerning artists freedom. I really find out quite fast: Is the music the style that we want or not. The bands must understand the philosophy of the label and our point of view to the business. If we like it and when it comes to a deal, then there is no problem with artistic freedom. There is also always a chance for a compromise.

10. What do you find to be the positive and negative sides of running a small label such as yours?
It’s positive that I communicate direct with my bands, I know them quite well and they always get an answer during 24hours. I can decide for myself and sometimes you get better prices. On the other hand there is always the problem with the money and the time. The budgets aren’t so big and as a small label you don’t have the best contacts to the bigger people. I have quite good partners and good bands and we here in our office know what we are working for : for us !

11. What promotion methods are you using to attract attention to the SPR name?
Signing good bands, make things different, continuously work, have success.

12. What are your distribution outlets?
My distribution partner INDIGO (Germany / Hamburg) is quite good. The can put my products in the shops and they pay. We have a very good relationship. They can also export to all over the world. We also work together with www.adifferentdrum.com in the USA.

13. Why are some of your releases made available only in Germany?
Because I just have the rights for Germany / Austria / Switzerland. I have licensed some cd’s from the USA or Scandinavia.

14. I notice how well many of the smaller independent labels from the electro scene work together, and for you especially collaborating with labels like Memento Materia and A Different Drum. In what way has this benefited each of you?
We trade cd for cd, we know each other quite well and we know the problems of being a small label. It’s quite important to have partners like these, it make the label more attractive and makes it easier to sign a band.

15. What has been the most rewarding achievement for the label so far..?
Release DE/VISION remixed – first chart entry.
Detect mesh, build them up and “sell” them to a major.

16. And the forthcoming events for SPR are….?
Releasing Colony5, Carpe Diem, F.A.Q and go on tour with these bands. Maybe signing 1 or 2 new acts.

17. Any final words for our readers?
Respect copyright.