Jagjaguwar, the independent label known for its family-like community of artists, began with a Dungeons & Dragons character-name-generator computer program created by Darius Van Armen during his college days at UVA. He signed his friends’ bands to the label, and eventually met Chris Swanson, the founder of Secretly Canadian. This friendship would result in a partnership that formed the basis of Secretly Group.
Bon Iver was one of the early artists signed to Jagjaguwar. The Wisconsin project’s debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, sold out quickly, and lead singer Justin Vernon thanked the label for its transparency and friendship during the band’s speech at the 2012 Grammys. Other musicians who have signed to Jagjaguwar include Sharon Van Etten, Small Black, Foxygen, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Women, Preoccupations, and Angel Olsen.
Jagjaguwar’s reputation centers around bringing together a family of talented musicians from across the globe. The label has curated an impressive catalogue of up-and-coming artists.
In a conversation with Lau Frias, a label A&R, Anastasia Coope, an up-and-coming artist, talked about her upcoming debut album, Darning Woman. Coope, who grew up in upstate New York, started off as a painter before moving into the realm of music. She discussed how creating space is an important aspect of her work, both as a painter and a musician. The ultra-feminine is a prominent aspect of Coope’s lyrics, although she doesn’t intentionally focus on it. Physicality and ephemera are central themes in her album, which is set to release on May 31
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