Portrait: discover the label Ancient King Records!

Each month, we present an independent label that we've decided to highlight. This month, we invite you to discover the label Ancient King Records!

Logo by Wappenschmied

Can you tell us where the name of your label comes from and what motivated you to create one?

Ancient King Records was created in 2020, due to my inspirations from the Middle Ages, the name came quite naturally. There are different reasons that pushed me to create this label, the main reason being to highlight a genre that is particularly close to my heart: Dungeon Synth. But also to be able to offer quality while bringing a personal touch to each of the produced albums. I like to bring decorative elements to add with the cassette for each project, it makes the physical edition unique and faithful to what the artist wanted to create, thus enhancing their work and spreading their music around the world from France.

What is your background in music?

I don't have any formal musical training, I've always learned to play different instruments in a self-taught manner. From adolescence, I played in a small band as a guitarist with friends in 2012, and that same year I started to have my first solo ambient projects with synthesizers. Since then, I've always experimented by creating different projects and played in a few other music groups.

Among all the experiences you've had with your label, which one has marked you the most?

In just a few days, I will be participating in the first Dungeon Synth festival held in Europe, which will take place in Belgium at the Dark Dungeon Festival. This is a big first for me and for Ancient King Records, as I haven't had the opportunity to participate in such events before. I will be able to present physical productions to people attending the festival with a booth, whereas usually I have always distributed productions via the internet. I'm looking forward to meeting people there, the other labels that will be on-site with me, and seeing for the first time several live performances of this genre with artists playing on synths. It's an experience that will be significant for the label's history, and I'm really delighted to be able to participate.

Let's talk about artists. What style of music can we find through your releases?

We mainly find Dungeon Synth with medieval or fantastic ambient influences. Many of my solo projects are in the catalog like Flamberge, Skhemty, Weress and others that will come, we can also find some other French artists like Descort or soon Saturnales, other European musicians like Castle Zagyx, Feudum and soon some American artists like Aura Merlin or Secret Stairways.

What are the prerequisites for joining Ancient King Records?

Being passionate, authentic, and having artistic ideas to propose. It's a totally independent label, I work alone for now and in my free time. My partner sometimes helps me when orders become numerous.

Do you have an idea of the proportion of your physical sales compared to digital distribution?

I only manage physical editions. As for digital, it's possible to listen to the albums when purchasing on the label's website, and if people want to support the artists digitally, links are directly provided from the label's page to their own Bandcamp page so that we can support the musicians' work.

Speaking of physical sales, which format(s) (CDs, vinyl, cassettes) do you offer most often?

Mainly cassettes, that's what I personally like to collect and it's what people generally listen to the most in this scene. CDs are also available and soon vinyl, but I want cassettes to remain the major sales.

And what about merchandising in general? Is there an item you particularly appreciate?

With embroidered or woven patches, there's a way to offer nice things to accompany the productions. T-shirts in the future, why not, it's not the primary intention of the label but I'm thinking about it more and more.

To conclude this interview, tell us about the label's future projects!

Enjoy creating new handmade decorations for the upcoming productions that are in progress, there will be beautiful things to present in the future, so stay close to the ramparts to observe it!