Marc Houle kicked off 2017 with the launch of his three-part album series on his own label Items & Things. The first of the trilogy “Sinister Minds” was released back in March consisting of 9 tracks that showed the different sides of Marc, traveling through a selection of styles and soundscapes.
Items & Things announced three remix packages, the second installment coming armed with remixes by both Chloé and Sian, with their take on the textural synth and vocal work of Marc in his original track “Sinister Mind”.
In honor of the occasion we took the time to chat with Marc about Items & Things and to ask him for his 10 top releases since the label’s inception, all of which you can find below! The Sinister Minds Remix package was released today, December 15th, and is available on Beatport.
Hi Marc, can you recall what the ethos of the label was when you founded it? Has it changed at all in the years since?
At the time, Troy Pierce, Magda and I were on the Minus label traveling around playing shows and were given lots of cool music by people. We came across so much good music that needed to be released but didn’t quite fit the “Minus sound”. We created a sub label to Minus which later, when we left Rich’s label, became our main platform. The basic rule was that it had to be weird, cool and funky.
What is the exact meaning behind “Items & Things”? How did you come about choosing that name?
It was some stupid thing I used to say but worked well to describe the off center treasures we were finding. It was also the name of one of my songs on an older record. We wanted something that wasn’t so serious and polished and shows are more fun side of life.
Let’s travel back to the first release on the imprint. What was it and why did you choose that versus any other tracks you listened to as an option at the time?
For the first release we thought it best to include a track from each of us to sort of set things straight and make a statement of who we are and what to expect. These were all tracks we were playing that were doing great on the dance floor but couldn’t be released on our old label. After that we thought we could get a little weirder.
How often do you release on the label yourself? Are you exclusive to your own label?
There isn’t really a set time but maybe once a year or 2. Whenever it feels right really. I never want to push it or force anything because then the fun escapes and it becomes more work than play. I do feel like things should push a little now and so I’ll be putting more out than the slow few years we just had. It’s time really.
Can you reveal anything about future planned releases on Items & Things?
I have 2 albums ready to go. I’m just not exactly sure if they should be I&T releases or maybe just one of them. I have to think about it a bit more first. We are in the midst of a Loafers Remix EP and also a Sinister Mind remix EP which has some great remixes from Wehbba, Sian and Chloé and then Tobi Neumann is in Jan.
Could you select 10 tracks which you would put into your top playlist of releases on your label since its inception?
Sure, here they are:
Troy Pierce – The Day After Yesterday
Alexi Delano – Would You
Jimmy Edgar – Function (Seth Troxler remix)
Magda & Suade – Fixation
Tomas More – A+B
Andy Martin – Funky Monster Under My Bed
Howard Watson – Keep Away
Click Box – Something Wrong (Madato’s Wrong Way Remix)
Rework – Dry Acid
Marc Houle – Paligama
