Interview with WILL from TO LIVE A LIE records

TO LIVE A LIE records is a cool label focused on very rough sounding bands.
Fastcore, powerviolence, grindcore is the noize we love to hear and the noize Will loves to spread! I have discovered his label through my favorite band XBRAINIAX (check out interview elsewhere on this site), and after i have started buying records from this label a world has opened in front of me! Bands like DEAD RADICAL (-WRONG! DxRx NEVER RELEASED ANYTHING ON TLAL - SORRY READERS AND MOSTLY, SORRY WILL!/pulce-) , HUMMINGBIRD OF DEATH, ARCHAGATHUS, FINAL DRAFT, BLOODY PHOENIX are just few examples of bands that worked with the label. I have had a small conversation thru the web with Will, the mind behind this project. Enjoy!

1- Hi Wiil: write us a brief history of To Live A Lie records: who you are, when you started this project, where are you from...?

Well my name is Will, I guess that is obvious already, I hail from the USA and I live in the south down in North Carolina. I guess my main contribution to the DIY scene is through my label so that is who I am as far as most things are concerned, just a guy who really loves music and wants to have a hand in it. The formation of TLAL started with my friends Rick and Dub (both in Shitstorm and Ricky plays in Torche) asking me to do a Magrudergrind record. I had originally been talking to those two brothers to put out their old band's record and that is how they knew I'd be interested. They ended up not being able to do the record and I split released it with Jorge from Nuclear BBQ Party. That record came out in 2005 and started out with me not knowing what I was doing but I was really driven to do something positive with it. Did a lot of trading, hyped a lot on the Internet, and was pretty proactive. So to fastforward time, I kept putting out releases... mainly split releases with other labels for a good long time. I've been focusing more on doing more releases only on my label as of late.

2 - Why TO LIVE A LIE? It sounds like a line from a grindcore album...Phobia maybe?

The name comes from something I thought it up as a kid. It is actually pretty lame sounding but I had it as an AIM screenname when I was probably thirteen or so. Around the age of seventeen I started booking shows and used instant messenger a lot to get stuff worked out. Really its just a name that I felt represented me, so why rip something from someone else if you have something that means something to you personally? The band In Disgust did write a song with the same name, but that was after the label had started.

3- Who have you been inspired by?

I have a really good circle of dudes I talk to about music. It is really inspiring to watch the big DIY labels do their thing, I think labels like Six Weeks, RSR, Deep Six, Bones Brigade, and quite a few others are doing an amazing job. I'm more inspired however by the people I have direct contact with and will talk to me and get stoked on music and releases with me. Will Toftness who used to be in Hip Cops and runs a label called BSP Propaganda is a great inspiration. Also Ralph from Haunted Hotel and I recently started talking more to Pat from Backslide who does Blastcat Records. Ira who plays in a few local bands and my roommates get me amped on music. It is all about ethics and positivity, gets me excited!

4 - What was the first record you released?

Godstomper/Magrudergrind split. We did like 1k of those things. After that I put out the Rhino Charge 7" which wasn't a split release and did 1k of those too. Had a lot of luck at the begining of my label.

5 - What was the best record done 'til now?

You can't put me on the spot like that! I have an affinity towards everything I've put out (that is the diplomatic thing to say right?). I look back and I've put in a lot of work into everything and each release is totally worth it. I think this new Sex Prisoner EP is astounding as far as new stuff to be stoked on. The Magnum Force EP will be killer too.

6 - A band you dream to have on your label?

I'm working with one right one for TLAL45! I'm working with Assholeparade. Always loved them, feeds my love for hardcore mixed with that abrassive fast powerviolence. Hmm... who else would I like to work with? I could make an exquisite list of some off the top of my head,, Low Threat Profile, Despise You, Looking for an Answer, Bathtub Shitter... man and I had this crazy idea the other day and I actually shot a few emails with the group, it'd be awesome to do a split record with a band that I deal with that is animal rights oriented and the vegan hiphop group Dead Prez. Think they might have gotten scared off when they actually looked at my label but I think that would be the coolest thing ever.

7 - In my little world, the only known band from Raleigh is C.O.C.

Do you know they are just back with the "Animosity" line up?

What do you think of them...and please tell us about more bands/venues from your area!

COC was rad the other day when I saw them, I have pictures from it even. The show was a little mellow as far as the crowd was cocerned which was slightly disappointing . I'm surprised you didn't namedrop Double Negative too... those dudes are/have been blowing up. Let me do a fastcore speed list of bands and what they are about... Devour - heavy, spastic, and non-repetative, Thieves - angry fast fast hardcore, Stripmines - Siege/Heresy worshiping pissed hardcore, Old Painless - super new techish grind band, Burma - young kids, new band, think Converge mixed with powerviolence, No Tomorrow - crust from two hours away at the beach.

8 - Are you making a living off the label?

If so, has it been hard to reach that level?

And if you aren't, what is your daily job?

Is it hard to have a daily life and running a label?

Oh hell no. I'm probably losing money on the label... I mean I was selling $3 7"s for a long time, now I hardly charge much more. Larger labels get a huge break by pressing a ton of records and then turn around and sell a 7"s for $6 or an LP for $15. That is what it takes to reach that level. I do IT (computers) for the state of North Carolina for a day job. I have figured out a decently good way to balance life and the label.. I limit the amount of time I work on it. One day a week is a record packing day, maybe one on the weekend, and one shipping day. I try to work on label stuff during my day job as much as I can. TLAL is a labor of love, I have no kids and no pet.. this is where my time goes.

9 - Future plans and releases

Are you ready for the insane (I'm going to be mega broke) list:

TLAL40 - xBrainiax - Deprogrammed CD+
TLAL42 - Agathocles / Violent Gorge - split 7"
TLAL44 - Unholy Grave / Tinner - split 7"
TLAL45 - Assholeparade - Live in Rostock 10"
TLAL46 - Magnum Force - Self-Loathing 7"
TLAL47 - Backslider- s/t 7"
TLAL48 - Godstomper / Dos Amigos - split 7"
TLAL49 - Mehkago N.T. - Massive Fucking Headwound LP
TLAL50 - V/A - To Live A Lie 7"
TLALXX - Archagathus - Canadian Horse LP
TLALXX - V/A - Third Wave Powerviolence CD
TLALXX - Deathrats - TBA 7"
TLALXX - Suffering Luna - TBA LP
TLALXX - Seasick - Eschaton LP
TLALXX - Get Destroyed! - Shut In 7"

10 - Are you going to reprint those cool TLAL caps? (This one is for me ahahahahah)

Oh man those were from forever ago. My suggestion, take a black hat.. get a white out pen and make an awesome customized one of a kind flip hat of your own. Out mutual homie Steveo got a hat airbrushed at the fair with TLAL on it and it looks amazing. DIY fashion!


(this is our mutual friend Steve-o representin' TLAL records)

Thanx to Will for his precious time.

If you want to get in contact with him, choose your favorite way:

http://tolivealie.com/webstore/
myspace