History of Baby Gas Mask Records
The independent record label has increasingly become the best option for aspiring artists and musicians to share their art with music-lovers. As the major labels have struggled with technological and legal issues, as well as their glutted budgets and overhead, they have been slow to change and adapt to the new rhythms of how people pay for and appreciate music. Th
is has created an opening for independent record labels to gain traction in the marketplace, resulting in a plethora of new record labels, recording studios, and innovative music-sharing technology nationwide. Ironically, for the independent record label the way forward into the future is by resuscitating the past. Baby Gas Mask Recordsβ commitment to the vinyl format is based in the belief that all musicians should get to hear their work in an authentic analog form. As well, the aesthetic and artistic expression inherent in a vinyl record makes it something that bands can be proud to directly sell to their audience. Baby Gas Mask Records is situated in Tucson, Arizona, which has a vibrant and extensive music history and scene, including nationally-renowned recording studios, many independent labels, a high-power community radio station that has broadcast local music for the past thirty years, and a diversity of bars and venues where artists and musicians can share their work. Tucson is also a border community that has a strong cultural connection to Mexico, and Tucson musicians have been greatly influenced by the music of Latin America. This confluence of music and diversity has produced musical acts widely varied in sound and commercial success. Growing up in Tucson, owner Seth Mauzy was exposed to this wide variety of music, and became devoted to music from a very young age as he explored his parentsβ extensive record collection. As an adult Seth continued to collect vinyl records, regularly visiting the vinyl record shops of Tucson, and learned about the record making process. The more Seth explored what Tucson had to offer musically the more he wanted to participate and give back to the community. Thus the idea of an independent record label was born. Capital to start Baby Gas Mask Records became available at the end of 2010 and the label incorporated in May of 2011. To serve as many markets as possible, and keep Baby Gas Mask Records engaged with the national musical community it functions not only as a label, but as a digital recording studio, and as a retail outlet for rare vinyl. The label seeks both local and national bands who are already engaged in making and sharing music but donβt have a label to produce vinyl copies of their work. By producing and funding exclusive vinyl editions for bands, many DIY bands have an additional source of revenue to continue their work. Bands that have yet to record their music can also be served by Baby Gas Mask Records. The digital recording studio, lovingly referred to as Studio 42, is set in an intimate setting where musicians can have a hands-on experience recording their material with production team Geomancy, comprised of owner Seth Mauzy and Chief Engineer, Chris Levesque. In order to share the music that Baby Gas Mask Records produces with the national audience, it maintains an online store that sells not only its own releases but an extensive collection of rare vinyl that is regularly updated to reflect new inventory.
