MIR: Thank you for taking the time to do this. Please introduce yourself to the readers.
Ryan: The pleasure's all mine! My name is Ryan and I'm one of the co-owners and the label manager at Black Throne Productions, a Toronto-based label that focuses on a bunch of different sub-niches of the doom/stoner rock genre.
Q: How did you get started on this adventure?
A: Music has always been a big part of my life since I was a kid. I had always wanted to be involved in and help the local scene in some way but was never sure exactly how. I have a background in Project Management for my full-time gig and thought it was a skill set that could be used to help some artists on the business side of things.
Around 2020, myself and the other co-owner of BTP (Zack Horvath / Z Hollow Studios), had been working in pretty crappy conditions in construction for about 4 years and we were looking for something we could take on together. I think there was a pretty specific moment while working in the mud in the middle of a harsh Canadian winter and we both thought "fuck it, we're gonna start that record label and get out of the mud" - or something along those lines.
So I started booking a ton of shows for local bands and making connections across Ontario and Quebec and Zack brought on more clients to his studio and things just sort of took off from there at a rate we didn't anticipate.
"Serendipitous" is a word our crew throws around a lot, especially with our AAWKS family as they were the first to reach out to us as a brand new band (sort of) on a total chance meeting. We all just happened to be in the right place at the right time, with goals that aligned. Zack recorded, mixed and mastered their debut album and myself and Kris worked together to manage the band and their release and it worked out very well for everyone involved.
Q: If you could go back to the day you started and give yourself one piece of advice, what would that be?
A: The whole idea of Quality > Quantity resounds a bit in me these days. Organizational and time management skills are more important than you think. Keep your ego in check. Be nice. Pretty simple and generic stuff like that make all the difference.
Q: What is something that you have adopted that brings value to your process?
A: Having a team of capable people that you can trust is pretty crucial. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without our crew (shout out to Paul, Bill, Paco, Megan, Frederic/Sons of Arrakis and the Fuzzed and Buzzed family). On that note, working with our existing community and having a mindset of Cooperation > Competition
Q: Please highlight some of the things you enjoy most about what you do.
A: Generally I get stoked on being able to take some of the pressure of "business-related" tasks off the artist so that they can focus on their art. I enjoy taking on methodical approaches to schedules and management and refining them over time.
The whole show environment is also where I find a lot of contentment, even when the shows aren't great turn outs. Seeing the scene in Ontario and Quebec come together for the underground artists over the last couple years has been super cathartic.
Q: What are some of your current goals? Things you may hope to achieve in the next 12-24 months or further.
A: For short term goals, obviously continue with quality releases and shows and hope to expand on this. Our new annual festival Rhune Mountain Fest sold out in our first year this past June, we'd like to expand on that and build something to last within the ON/QC scene for this genre.
Within 5-10 years I have my sights set on having our own venue/recording studio and making this a full time gig, but the economy is sort of dictating all that for the time being.
Q: What is an unpopular opinion that you subscribe to or a popular opinion that you disagree with?
A: In terms of an idea that I disagree with, it would be that pop music sucks. Sure, it may not be your thing, but it resonates with millions and millions of people for a reason. It's definitely not my favorite, but that's because I generally don't vibe with it. I can appreciate the ability of a musician to create catchy hooks and fun sounds though.
Q: Is there anything you want to mention as we close?
A: Just a big thanks to everyone who's made this journey possible for us, including the people who support the local scene here in ON/QC, our team at BTP, the whole AAWKS crew, Frederic Couture / Sons of Arraki & AstroSonic Productions, Paco, Casey & Corey at Tarantula Tapes, Connor / Fuzzed and Buzzed, Will Adams / Tell Me About It Records, Craig Rose / Bonecrusher Presents, Jean-Michel / Strange Valley Productions, Sam Milner / The Riff Mountain, Bovine Sex Club, Doors Pub & of course my partner Rayven who has always been supportive and patient of how much time this takes up in my day to day life.
And thanks to you Bobby, for the opportunity! Cheers.
MIR: Thank you for your time and I appreciate what you are doing.
Bobby Rayfield ~ Monuments in Ruin
Click here to visit Black Throne Productions