Jeepster was created in 1995 by like-minded people looking for an outlet for a style of music they felt was missing from the scene at that time. Our first signing, Belle & Sebastian, brought the label into the indie media and buyers consciousness almost immediately and, via its association with the band, so developed a Jeepster sound. Increasingly, new artists wanted to be associated with the development of the label.
Belle & Sebastians initial success provided the label with the opportunity to expand its roster, firstly with Snow Patrol in winter 1997, Salako early the following year and finally Looper and The Gentle Waves.
Critically acclaimed album releases followed from all four new signings. When Belle & Sebastian released their third album The Boy With The Arab Strap in 1998 and against all odds went on to beat Steps to the 1999 Brit Award for Best Newcomer, they were not most popular with some less indie-orientated industry gurus.
Despite so much critical success, commercially things had always been rather difficult. By 2002 the unpleasant realities of increasing recording and marketing costs allied with a reduced market for indie music generally at that time forced the label to consider ways to consolidate its position to secure some sort of future. So, to retain the catalogue they had worked so hard to create the decision was taken to reduce the size of the label and temporarily curtail its signing activity.
But we didnt stop working. In October 2003 Jeepster released Fans Only, Belle & Sebastians first DVD project. This retrospective compilation was aimed squarely at their ever loyal fanbase and records the development of the band during their time with Jeepster, bringing together videos, live performances, interviews, out-takes, tv appearances, documentary footage and exclusive material to give an insight into the evolution of the band.
In May 2005 Jeepster complimented Fans Only with the bands first compilation album, Push Barman To Open Old Wounds, which brought together all 25 tracks from their seven Jeepster EP and single releases. While at Jeepster, the band had a no singles from albums policy and so only one b-side had ever appeared on an album, making this a worthwhile project.
In April 2006 it was time to look after the Snow Patrol fans and we re-released their two very excellent Jeepster albums, Songs For Polarbears and When Its All Over We Still Have To Clear Up, with loads of extras including b-sides and a video.
The great news is that everything has gone to plan and having protected our label from exploitation and successfully maintained our independent status for eleven years now, we are in a position to get back to what we like to do best: releasing records from great new bands. As part of this pledge we are over the moon to announce the signing of our first band in a fair while, the lively and totally enigmatic (with some thoroughly good tunes) SixNationState and the infectious sax/dance indie explosion of Parka. Watch this space!
Click here to vote for the Parka video in the MTV2 NME Hot New Ones chart
