The story behind 5th Estate Music is pretty simple. When I decided to release my first solo album under the name Fine Print Pariah I knew from the beginning that it would be a completely independent self-release. It was all kind of an experiment and that was part of the plan - to make a truly independent album with no help or input from outside and just see what would happen. And that's just what I did. During the recording process I started to make plans for marketing, promotion and distribution and that is when the idea of a "label" came about. I found myself playing very different roles when doing all of these administrative things, almost like I was a different person than the artist in the studio. It also became clear that I had to have a different perspective when taking care of these tasks, more disciplined and thick-skinned - more "business-like". I set up 5th Estate Music to do just that - to keep the art and the commerce separate in some way so I could more convincingly play two roles, at least in my own mind.
A year or so on, the project that created the necessity for 5th Estate Music is no longer active and may never be again. But 5th Estate Music still has a purpose and will continue to be the adminstrative centre for all of my artistic projects. The focal point now is Paul E. Phonics - that's me, my laptop, some cool synths and guitars in the studio at least. I also have plans for at least two more projects which will be activated later this year and early next year, and then? Who knows? We'll see what the future brings.
And why the name "5th Estate Music"? Have a look here to find out the historical significance of the term "5th Estate". Add the dimension of "music" to that and you get a pretty accurate description of what is going on here. And besides, I just think it sounds kind of cool...
Long live independent music!
Paul McCormick
Berlin - Oct. 21, 2010
A year or so on, the project that created the necessity for 5th Estate Music is no longer active and may never be again. But 5th Estate Music still has a purpose and will continue to be the adminstrative centre for all of my artistic projects. The focal point now is Paul E. Phonics - that's me, my laptop, some cool synths and guitars in the studio at least. I also have plans for at least two more projects which will be activated later this year and early next year, and then? Who knows? We'll see what the future brings.
And why the name "5th Estate Music"? Have a look here to find out the historical significance of the term "5th Estate". Add the dimension of "music" to that and you get a pretty accurate description of what is going on here. And besides, I just think it sounds kind of cool...
Long live independent music!
Paul McCormick
Berlin - Oct. 21, 2010
