Perth producer Sam Ford launches Tone City Records

Perth producer and songwriter Sam Ford has launched Tone City Records with the aim of taking more WA music to the rest of the country.

At launch its roster includes SUPATHICK made up of Demon Days, Almond Soy and Wooly Mammoth; triple j supported band DICE; Romeo Walker aka multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Witt and POND/Empire of The Sun collaborator; blues-rock singer-songwriter Siobhan Cotchin; and psychedelic-soul band Nectar.

Ford told TMN that TCR is “like a family”.

“It’s built on the artists and myself having the same vision, ambitions and having a mutual connection both creatively and through personal and working relationships,” he said.

The label comes with an Artist Development Program that allows its acts to upskill through mentorships throughout the artist’s project including production, mixing, marketing, release schedule and event management.

The official launch of Tone City Records is on February 26 at Freo Social.

Aside from the roster, there’ll be sets by Project Bexx, Ken Paolo, Claudie Joy, The Joyboys, King Blue and Banjo Lucia.

The label is an extension of his Tone City Studios, which he set up in the suburb of Scarborough and which is currently expanding with another studio.

He built the studio with a living room ambience so as not to stress out musicians who’d done most of their recording until then in their homes.

Ford’s career as a producer began for his band The Silents for whom he played bass, and led to his working with POND, Birds of Tokyo, Abbe May and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets.

“I always love chatting about music with Sam,” Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker said. “Everything from making it, to releasing it. He really gets it.

“Being in the studio with him is a dream too and always fun.

“Super excited to see where he takes his record label.”

Ian Kenny of Birds of Tokyo said Sam is one of the few producers he trusts.

“That’s exactly what you need when you’re trying to get the best out of your art.”