Thunk Recordings have recently shone to light with Head Affects-'Afro Chrome'. As we have previously heard on i:Vibes, it got a major workout by the likes of Anthony Pappa and Kasey Taylor .. What else have these guys been up to 'down-under'? Nows your chance to find out..a full profile an interview too!

Since forming in 1996, Sydney based Thunk Recordings has become one of Australia’s
leading independent dance labels. Owned and run by its founders Brett Mitchell and Tim
Harrison, Thunk has pursued an all-out quality policy and built an enviable international
reputation for its unique, cutting edge style with a roster that includes some of Australia’s top electronic acts including Infusion, Pocket and Head Affect.

A chance meeting in Sydney saw Brett and Tim initially working together through Volition
Records which was home to many electronic acts of the time - including Severed Heads,
Itch-e & Scratch-e and Brett’s band Boxcar. But when Volition closed its doors, and frustration set in with the lack of suitable outlets for the many talented local writer/producers - Brett and Tim (and originally DJ Phil Smart who has since left to persue his DJ career) decided to get together and form a new label.

With compatible tastes and skills, and having been signed artists themselves (Brett to
Volition/Arista AUS/USA, Tim to Polydor UK), the label gained an immediate head start with the backgrounds of its founders. Tim has worked for many years as a designer on a wide range of projects, from Blur, Leftfield and Apollo 440 in the music industry to Ford and Foxtel in the corporate world - whilst Brett draws on experience as an accomplished musician/producer (with Australian electronic music pioneers Boxcar), and journalism for magazines such as the UK's music technology bible Sound On Sound.
Thunk actually began as a dancefloor offshoot to the partners first label Think Communications whose first releases - the ambient Environments CD series, were greeted with instant praise both far and wide; from Wired and Urb magazines in the USA to Mixmag in the UK.

Appropriately named, Thunk was formed shortly after this encouraging start, and began
concentrating on building a following with vinyl releases; it’s output initially being via San
Francisco (with the assistance of Hardkiss label manager Niven Bonar) - but later switching to the UK, from where Intergroove now distribute Thunk releases internationally.

From its first release, with Earthlink’s ‘Spectral’ EP (quickly being snapped up for license by the UK’s Deviant Records) Thunk has built a solid club profile with a steady stream of vinyl EPs which have consistently earned praise from both local and international DJ's and music press.

Early releases such as Pocket’s ‘Knife’ EP and Head Affect’s ‘Hi Jinks’ EP gained immediate attention; their jaunty dancefloor outings scoring top marks in the UK and US Music Press,and becoming favourites for many; from Sydney’s club scene to appearances on international mix compilations such as John Digweed’s Global Underground series.

Infusion joined the label unleashing the first of many outstanding vinyl excursions (initially working under the monicker of Outfission with their storming debut ‘Weekend Favourites’ EP) - this band have developed to become one of Australia’s most exciting and respected electronic acts, both live and on record. Acclaimed for their gritty, atmospheric sound; Infusion’s ‘Flinch’ and ‘Spike’ won over many fans early on and helped to reinforce the label’s reputation for quality output.
As well as the the vinyl releases, Thunk have released several CDs; ‘1-800 Thunk’, ‘2-800 Thunk’ and ‘Thunk Up’ have served up selections taken from the Vinyl output - whilst Infusion’s debut album ‘Phrases and Numbers’ (described as a “beautiful and amazing dance album” by 3DWorld Magazine Australia) gained both DMA and ARIA 2001 nominations. Performing it’s recorded music live has been a priority for the label, seeing Pocket, Infusion and Head Affect playing at both sold-out Thunk Live shows and some of the country largest events such as The Big Day Out and Gatecrasher.
Combining this creative talent with advances in audio, communications and business
technology, Thunk has become a successful and self sufficient business through maximising its output with the savvy use of relatively inexpensive desktop technology; virtually every component - from the production of the music, video and sleeve art being
created in software.

With an eye to the future, Thunk has a barrage of new material planned for 2002 - and with fans ranging from Adam Freeland, Lucien Foorte and John Digweed, this is a label to watchout for...

Additional Questions put to Brett:

With Head Affect, Pocket and Infusion playing at major events, getting to play their promos etc, did this dramatically improve sales or was Thunks reputation in place to exert sales already?

Well they have only really played locally until recently, Infusion just played in the UK, US and Japan, so hasn't really affected sales internationally. But in a local sense yeah definitly, this helps sell the Thunk compilations here.

Are there any more "Thunk Live Shows" planned for the future?

Not at the moment, we'll probably do one for the release of the next compilation.

Anthony Pappa has been hot on Head Affects-Afro Chrome, being a local to you, how did you see the success of it after he played it globally? gaining appearances on his "Resolutions" cd and being played at several live events.

Well Anthony has been living in the UK now for quite some time now, but when any 'big name' DJ champions one of your release that always helps. This is mainly with young djs and the like who hear him play it and then go out and buy it. The CD comps work in much the same why, definitly helps.

Coming soon is "Oblivias Newton Bomb" produced by Andy Page. How do you see this taking off because of the unique style Andy imprints on his tracks?

Andy is amazing, he is unquestionably one of the best programmers in the world. We'll see whether the record takes off, you never can tell, though we believe it is a very unique tune.

Did being an offshoot from "Think Communications" help to give "Thunk" an early lift-due to the connection,success and reputation that "Think Communications" gained?

Well I gues in the initial stages yeah, cause we got quite bit of international press out of the Environments comps, but Thunk has way over taken Think interms of profile, catalogues size etc

Thunk Discography

tr001 : earthlink-'spectral'
tr002 : head affect- 'high jinks'
tr003 : pocket -'knife'
tr004 : outfission-'weekend favourites'
tr005 : various artists-'inbred'
tr007 : infusion -'flinch'
tr008 : head affect -'splinter'
tr009 : earthlink -'3 angles'
tr010 : infusion -'spike'
tr011 : pocket -'overdue'
tr012 : various artists -'inbred 2'
tr013 : infusion -'isbn'
tr014 : fex -'tar'
tr015 : dillon street rangers -'black and fuzzy'
tr019 : infusion -'fallen star'
tr021 : infusion -'legacy'
tr022 : fex -'her fingers could see'
tr024 : august -'dark tongues'
tr027 : head affect -'afro chrome'

Many thanks to Brett for complying with the interview and letting us inside Thunk...
check out www.thunkrecordings.com