Following releases on Tri Angle, Subtext and Loopy, abstract experimental producer Fis, real name Oliver Peryman, announced the launch of his own imprint Saplings Records by sharing a letter to his Facebook.
Saplings Records will not release any physical vinyl or CD products, instead the ‘physical‘ format will be the planting of trees, in partnership with the Eden Reforestation Projects. Peryman is estimating that they can plant 100 trees for every individual sale of an album, and about half that for EP’s and smaller releases.
This is a exemplary response of being active amidst the to-and-fro of climate change and promotes habitat restoration, carbon sequestration and seed diversity. “I guess Saplings is attempting some kind of grounding mechanism, like an earthing rod, a conduit for musical energy to return to the planet. Whatever it is, I just hope this becomes a sustained contribution at the heart of things.”
Saplings inaugural release will be from Fis and Maori sound artist Rob Thorne. Read the open letter from Fis below.
Discover more about Fis and Saplings Records on Inverted Audio.
Hello folks hope all’s good,
Oliver / Fis here,
I’m stoked to put word out on a new label(ish) thing of mine. It’s called Saplings, we won’t do vinyl or CD, instead our ‘physical’ format will be the planting of trees, in partnership with Eden Projects.
With Eden’s help, Saplings can plant a hundred trees (maybe even more) for each sale of an album and about half that for EP sized stuff, all at standard digital prices. So the potential for instant and sizable impact is there, even just 10 album sales means at least a thousand trees. In light of that I’m very keen to get moving.
Eventually we’ll do heirloom seed varieties too, but that’s taking a while to kick on as the supply side is diverse and fragmented.
The backdrop for Saplings is pretty straightforward. Climate change and habitat loss are some of many elephants in the room right now – as if we need further reminders – I’d rather focus on practical and tangible responses that bring us together. So I guess Saplings is attempting some kind of grounding mechanism, like an earthing rod, a conduit for musical energy to return to the planet. Whatever it is, I just hope this becomes a sustained contribution at the heart of things.
Obviously the more reforestation the better, and the more resilience in our plant communities the better. So if these thoughts resonate, if you can adopt, adapt or improve on it please reach out or just go for it. The partnerships and communities are out there and they’re ready for us. Our music does still sell (kind of…) so even modest uptake from our circles could quite easily mean millions of trees in the long run.
So that’s my two cents at this stage. Saplings’ first release will be an EP-ish thing from Rob Thorne and myself, out pretty soon. When the time comes, give Saplings/me/you/us/earth 40 trees ($4 US) and it’s yours :)
Cheers and warm regards,
Oliver
