‘No musical boundaries’: Michael Gudinski launches new label

Indie music mogul Michael Gudinski has added another boutique label to his Mushroom Group empire this week, and introduced its first Australian signing.

Launching today, Reclusive Records’ creative efforts will be spearhead by Mushroom Events entertainment booker Andrew Mackie as director of A&R.

The first act to join the label’s roster is Yorta Yorta singer-songwriter Scott Darlow, who Gudinski said was the perfect fit for a project that’s been on his mind for some time.

“I am excited to launch Reclusive Records which I’ve been thinking about for quite a while but was holding off until I found the right artist for the right time,” Gudinski said.

“There will be no musical boundaries within the Reclusive label.

“I have believed in Scott Darlow for many years and it feels incredibly fitting that the first release for Reclusive is Scott’s extremely poignant and timely song ‘You Can’t See Black In The Dark’, which will lead into a very strong EP in the next couple of months.”

Featuring Birds Of Tokyo frontman Ian Kenny, the anthemic rock song is about race relations.

All proceeds from ‘You Can’t See Black In The Dark’ will be donated to Wirrpanda Foundation, which former West Coast Eagles player David Wirrpanda launched in 2005.

“The Mushroom Group is like family to me and I could not be more thrilled to be working with Michael and the team as A&R Director for Reclusive Records,” Mackie said.

“I feel honoured to be in this new role where I can help develop careers of talented artists.”

Mushroom Group’s touring and live events business might be travelling at a slower pace during the pandemic, but its labels are off to a rocking start this year.

I OH YOU, Soothsayer, Liberation, Ivy League, Bloodlines, Liberator and the new 100s + 1000s imprint are kicking big goals for the indie music company.

Under the supervision of Matt Gudinski, Mushroom labels had 17 ARIA nominations last year and are responsible three #1 albums in 2020, courtesy of Violent Soho and The Teskey Brothers.

Fresh signings Hayley Mary, Andy Golledge and Juno Mamba gave released debut projects, and residents Jack River, Willaris. K and Love Deluxe continued alluring the industry with new music.

But it’s new imprint 100s + 1000s that the industry is watching closely. It’s been quietly building steam and officially launched last month with new signings Fergus James, D’Arcy and Tobiahs.