Author Archives: patrick.quinif

Naturally, two “brands” that mean the most to me are Temporary Residence Ltd. and Merge Records.

Both of these labels have played HUGE roles in my life on an extremely personal level. To start, when I was about 13, I discovered Temporary Residence Ltd. I found solace in the band Explosions In The Sky and I noticed a tiny symbol on the backside of the CD case. I thought it was interesting but never really payed it any attention. Over the next few years I discovered bands like Eluvium and Mono, and once again that little heart logo with “Temporary Residence Ltd.” underneath. It was then that I decided to finally look them up online. From then, I have always trusted that any TRL band I purchase will be a safe choice. Not only safe, but life changing.

Fast forward to the present. I decide I’m moving to New York, and I look at the location of Temporary Residence… Brooklyn, NY. I shoot owner/creator Jeremy Devine an email letting him know how much I adore his records and asking him if there was any way I could be a part of it. He emails back within an hour or so thanking me for the kind words and offering to meet up with me when I come visit. I finally visited him and an internship was born. I began school and work (which I can attribute to one of the three TRL employees, Alfie who used to work at the Apple store and got me my job) and didn’t really have as much time to intern, so the tables turned and now Jeremy is helping me begin my own label.

This is where Merge steps in. I have always been a fan of bands like Arcade Fire, and Neutral Milk Hotel, but I never realized their label (similar to TRL). My girlfriend bought me a book one day entitled “Our Noise: The Story Of Merge Records” and as soon as I opened the cover… I was hooked. That book walked me through every single detail about how Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance created one of the most successful independent labels out of thin air. At this point, owning a record label was my biggest dream but I had no idea where to start, until I actually read this book. I found a newfound love for NMH and other bands I wish I would have found sooner such as Lambchop, Butterglory, Sebadoh, and Portastatic. Perhaps the largest thing Merge has done for me however, is that book. I basically view it as my bible now and refer all of my questions of what to do next straight to the bookshelf.

These labels have done more for me than anything I can even begin to think of, whether it be mentoring me, or sparking my dream. Either way, each of them are my favorites (hands down) and put out the best music you could possibly hear. I STRONGLY suggest any band from each, and I really hope you guys check them out.

http://temporaryresidence.com/

http://mergerecords.com/

Explosions In The Sky at Reckless Record Store

“All I can be is me… whoever that is…” -Bob Dylan

To answer a question like “Who do you think you are?” is a difficult process full of many analyses that could falsely sum me up. So instead, I give you a few words that people I have met throughout the years have described me as that I think can give you a good idea: Obsessive, tenacious, lazy, ecstatic, insane, “musically inclined”, meticulous, loving, sweet. Obviously I am many more things, but I believe that adjectives are beautiful and you only need a few to really get a point across. Other than these words, I am a musician who has had a dream of becoming an “entrepreneur” since I was 9, and have more recently narrowed that decision into the creator/owner of a record label. This is what brings me to Baruch and as of now, I am terrified. When in high school, teenagers always want as much independence and freedom as they can obtain and this stays with them until they actually have it. One of these things I am most petrified about is how much independence I actually have now. Nobody is here to push me like I used to be pushed, so I must find motivation myself, which is not difficult, just rather scary. Another thing I am concerned about is the balance between my life and school. In high school, the only thing I did other than school, was basically whatever I wanted. I didn’t need a job at that time, so I could basically spend my days however I wanted. Now all of that has changed and I had to find a way to pay the rent and bills my parents can no longer help me with. The last and the most daunting of the three, is keeping up with my grades. I was always the A student in high school because of how little of a challenge it was, but I never was good with pressure. It may just be that this is the first few weeks of college, but so far, I seem to be under so much stress that I can’t even do simple things without first transforming them into some grandiose gauntlet. However, I know I can make it though these things because I have the tenacity and determination to do so. Throughout this blog I have described many differences between college and high school that also terrify me, but if I must, let me point out one more distinct variation, nobody is looking out for you. It’s a terrifying revelation I have encountered that nobody is here to help, so I must do everything on my own. No doubt, this experience is going to play possibly the biggest role in my path of life, so I will change considerably and for that, I am extremely prepared.

The following picture was drawn in color by my little brother Jack (age 7 at the time), and a close buddy of mine named Joey Stramm created it into a logo for me.
If anyone wants a copy of my labels first few releases, just let me know. 🙂

sweety-tiger records