Old Bear Records is an indie label from Upstate New York that continues to impress with both new projects from developing upstart artists, and fantastic vinyl re-issues from wonderful, and often fantastically obscure, artists from the past. There’s a whole lot of heart and soul coming out Old Bear, so it should come as no surprise that the folks behind it are artists themselves.

Anthony and Chris Hoisington have spent years on the road as members of The Brothers McClurg, bringing their folky, unplugged, Gospel sounds to conferences, festivals, clubs and churches. Resisting the pull to Nashville, and alongside some like-minded compatriots, the brothers built Old Bear Studio, a noteworthy hive outside of Niagara Falls New York where they now actively look for other artists to pull into their creative fold. Old Bear Records is the label that allows them to release their own music, and projects by others they meet along the way. From hip, young, indie-folk artists to veterans looking for breath of fresh, creative air, Old Bear has found a fascinating niche. They will soon release a Larry Norman tribute album by Kevin Max Smith, formerly of dc Talk, and are booking a community-driven Larry-honoring tour for later this year.

 

We caught up with Old Bear’s Chris Hoisington to learn a bit more about the label, the vision, and what’s in store.

 

True Tunes: What types of albums grab your attention and get you excited when it comes to the re-issues? What are you considering on that side of things?

 

Chris Hoisington (Old Bear Records):When it comes to reissues there’s not necessarily any genre we strive to highlight. We instead try to shed light on albums we were raised on that we feel deserve a second look. We are also releasing more modern albums that we want to help promote and push. We’ve always appreciated artists that color outside the lines creatively we want to be marked by that more than a specific genre.

 

TT:When it comes to the new artists you work with, like Ian, what is the sort of creative vision or guiding ethos of Old Bear? What drives you as a label?

 

Hoisington:When it comes to working on new albums in our studio we just strive for the projects to be creative and unique. I’ve found early on producing albums that I much prefer artists that are risk takers. So many labels and studios are great at playing and recording to the market and cater to what’s trending. We just don’t have as much passion for that. I want to be part of timeless albums that I actually still want to listen to 20 years from now. The trick is figuring out how to promote those albums. I don’t think we’ve arrived by any means as a label. But we are slowly trying to build a tribe of like-minded artists that help promote and support each other.

 

TT:What’s something exciting that you have on the horizon?

 

Hoisington:I’ve become friends with many artists that we have met out on the road over the years. One being a guy named Paul Levinson. He released an album in the early 70’s called “Twice Upon A Rhyme” it has received some resurgence in recent years and was recently reissued on vinyl. We decided to record a new collection of songs based on his sci-fi novels. Paul hasn’t done an official album in 30 plus years so the idea of doing a new work felt exciting. His lyrics and melodies are interesting and I felt he still had something to say. “Welcome Up,” is being released via Old Bear records on February 5th.

 

For information on Paul Levinson Pre-orders, including a multi-colored, limited run vinyl, visit http://oldbearstudio.com/reissued/