TEXT:  Benjamin Marx  |||  PHOTOS (clockwise from bottom left):  Mudhoney by Shawn Brackbill; Iron and Wine by Emily Wilson; No Age by Ed Templeton; The Album Leaf by Bil Zelman; Beach House by Jason Nocito; Fleet Foxes by David Belisle

Since it’s conception in Olympia, Washington, Sub Pop has never really been a record label in the traditional sense. When it first got its wings, Sub Pop was a fanzine written and produced by Bruce Pavitt in the early 1980s. As the compilation cassettes that Pavitt attached to the fanzine grew in popularity, Pavitt decided to let the ‘zine grow into a record label with financial help from friend and future business partner Jonathan Poneman, who aided in the release of the debut Soundgarden single “Hunted Down/Nothing to Say”. Since that release, Sub Pop has been incredibly successful at capturing but not hindering the Seattle grunge scene, essentially turning themselves into more of a brand than a record label. In the 90s, to be attached to Sub Pop meant that you were making the music that was getting the most public attention, bands like Soundgarden, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Mudhoney, and, of course, fellow Olympians Nirvana.

As the label grew, so did the variety in its roster, as it now features the likes of bands like Fleet Foxes, the Album Leaf, Postal Service, and the Shins. The transition from primal rock to strummy acousticism may say more about Sub Pop than their press releases do. These were the guys that caught on to the 80s and 90s wave of rage and turned it into something financially beneficial to all involved. Maybe they’re on to something now, with the quieter side of music now filling up its roster, or maybe the 49% stake that Poneman sold in ’95 is finally taking it’s toll on the once grunge-heads, all that really matters is as long as Sub Pop is around, music will be funded by those who understand what it means to make music, to sell it, and to enjoy it.



Artists on Sub Pop’s current roster also include, but are not limited to: The Album Leaf, Blitzen Trapper, Beach House, Comets on Fire, David Cross, Flight of the Conchords, Fruit Bats, Iron and Wine, No Age and The Shins.

Additional Sub Pop artists include ones that we’ve covered here on Groovemine: Fleet Foxes, Foals, Grand Archives, Male Bonding, Papercuts, Ruby Suns, Vetiver, and Wolf Parade.


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Five tracks for you to sample from recent or upcoming releases on Sub Pop. Just right-click and save!

“Falling from the Sun” by The Album Leaf
“Dragon’s Song” by Blitzen Trapper  
“Norway” by Beach House
“White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes
“You’re a Target” by No Age