Issue Focus
Embodying the DIY spirit in the modern era is far, far different to what it meant 20, 30 years ago. Being DIY, and being successful at it, depends on one's ability to combine the wide variety of digital channels available to all of us with traditional methods of promotion, distribution and networking. 

Seán Price

This issue's focus is on Sean Price, someone who completely embodies this new way of creating from scratch. Sean heads up his own DIY music label - Brook Records; home to emerging Irish rapper Curtisy and also the management entity for emerging Irish singer-songwriter, katie phelan. 

He’s also a real sweetheart. Like a real cutie. Super duper sweet. 

Sean kindly lent us his time to talk a bit about himself, Brook, and what he sees as the next wave of talent coming out of Ireland in the coming years.
Who are you? 

Sean Price

What do you do at the moment? 

Run indie label and management company ‘Brook Records’

Tell me more about Brook records, how did you come to set up the label? And how has it been running the label all on your own? 

It started pretty naturally. I’ve always been releasing music as a teenager navigating open aggregators and distributors. Brook Records started as a label front for a lockdown artist project me and my brother put together called PRiiCE. From there I started to release katie phelan’s music through Brook Records (who is now managed by Brook since signing with London based label sevenfoursevensix) taking all my learnings from years of releasing music and most recently from the PRiiCE project. Brook Records are now releasing the debut album of Dublin-based rapper Curtisy who I’ve been such a fan of for a while now and it’s really exciting to get to put a campaign together for Curtisy and seeing it come to fruition with our recently launched vinyl pre-orders and lots of social growth with our focus on audience development.         
For me it is the excitement of the artists in their respective field and their cultural significance within the Irish music scene that tie the artists on Brook Records together. 

What do you consider about potential artists before working with them / signing them?

I consider if I can add value to their project & if I believe wholly in the music and the artist. That is key for me, especially building a label that is still in its infancy that is all about supporting artists career trajectories and their goals.

Are there any particular genres or styles you are interested in representing, or will Brook become a melting pot of sounds tied together by specific ideas? 

katie phelan's blend of folk and indie pop and Curtisy’s signature chill rap may seem world’s apart sonically but at their core they are two incredible lyricists who make uniquely engaging and introspective songs that connect with their fan bases and capture youth experience in Ireland. My hopes with Brook Records are that it becomes a melting pot of the next generation of culturally significant artists in Ireland and beyond.
What's the biggest challenge you’ve faced since establishing brook? 

Financing a venture like this is probably the biggest challenge. I have had to rely on my expertise, knowledge and determination to achieve lots of what Brook Records has achieved to date and wearing hats of all shapes and sizes to get things done. 

What's been your biggest achievement so far with Brook?

My biggest achievement with Brook so far has been the launch and trajectory we have seen katie phelan reach from her first release with Brook in November 2021 to kicking off 2024 working with sevenfoursevensix having played The Great Escape & Breakout West festivals last year and gearing up for a busy year of releasing and live shows.
Drinking the soup and moving to London was surely a huge change for you, how have you found that so far?

I’ve enjoyed it. It feels like there is more of an industry here compared to at home which obviously comes with the size of the market.

How has the distance to Ireland affected your work with Brook?

It’s been challenging at times when I might have to miss gigs/video shoots etc but with video calls and the constant connection of being online all the time it means that most of the work is still the same no matter where in the world we are. 

What do you miss most about Ireland and what, if anything, are you glad to have left behind?

I miss seeing some of my favourite artists play to an Irish crowd. I also miss boojum burritos wow![For the uncultured and uncivilised like myself, Boojum Burritos are a Irish Mexican restaurant chain whose classic mexican staple the Burrito was the second most ordered dish on Deliveroo in 2017. Sean says they're really lovely.]

What are your aspirations with Brook? Do we have a defined end goal or are we simply enjoying the process as it is? 

Like I said earlier, I hope that Brook Records becomes a melting pot of the next generation of culturally significant artists in Ireland and beyond. I aspire to build a roster that I’m super proud of and continue to help artists reach their full potential through label and management services.

How have you found the transition from Artist to record label? Experiencing the other side of the coin per say?

I’ve always known that this is the side of the coin I wanted to be on. I was fortunate enough to play big venues and have great experiences as an artist which gives me a unique perspective when working with other artists but I’m a lot happier to be working on this side and building an identity as a label manager. 

What advice would you give anyone looking to start their own venture like this?

Go for it. For a while I was stuck on not feeling like a proper label with a bit of imposter syndrome but the more you do it the more real it becomes and the more it builds. So even if it’s a slow start just go for it and learn from your mistakes. 

Who is on your radar for 2024? 

Obviously Curtisy and katie phelan are the artists that I’m most excited about this year. Curtisy has his debut album coming out in May and katie is working on her debut body of work so I’m really excited to watch them grow and achieve this year.Other artists on my radar are Dublin based rapper Ahmed, with love - he’s an all round creative. I recently saw him live and it’s truly a show. He’s a born performer with such good artistic instincts. Holly Munro, another Dublin based artist who released one of my favourite songs of 2023 called ‘Open Ended’. I’m really excited to hear what she will release this year. She’s a captivating songwriter with a hauntingly beautiful vocal.  Seanie Bermingham - another incredible songwriter who writes delicate songs that really hit the sweet spot for me. I could listen to him in any mood.Super producer turned artist MOIO is really exciting right now too, he is dropping banger after banger and I’m sure he won’t stop doing so anytime soon.

Finally, what can we expect from Brook for 2024?

Lots of exciting new music & our first album and vinyl release.